Early Buzz for Paul Thomas Anderson’s THE MASTER
Director Paul Thomas Anderson held a surprise screening for his new Scientology-inspired film THE MASTER last night at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, California. Reactions have been rolling in and they’re (unsurprisingly) extremely positive so far with the exception of a few Negative Nancy’s. The film centers on a charismatic intellectual (Hoffman) who launches a faith-based organization following World War II. A drifter (Phoenix) becomes his right-hand man but as the faith begins to gain a fervent following, the drifter finds himself questioning the belief system and his mentor. Check out some early reactions after the jump! Amy Adams, Laura Dern, Jesse Plemons, and David Warshovsky also star. The Master will have its official premiere in Venice on September 1st and will go into in limited release on September 14th.
@Brett_Myers: “The performances are perfect, the pace incredible, the music generally fitting, the film is an abstract dreamy essay. It is sort of there more to question than answer. It’s a kinda exercise in just picking the audiences brain. Sadly a lot of the audience were complete morons, laughin at completely non funny things. The film has a great humor to it though, a brotherly joviality. It lacks the ‘punch’ I was expecting, but I’m more realizing this film may be perfect. I didn’t really care for “Boogie Nights” first view, but now it’s my favorite movie. Oscars, I don’t know really, we still have a lot of great movies coming out that will definitely be more audience friendly. This won’t be seen in red America but they need this more than I do. Yes I bowed to PTA as he entered and then shook his hand and thanked him and followed him to the projection room where he screened the first of many to come of the master. It seems it’ll be one that requires lots of em”
@AlmostVictor: “Don’t want to say more than a few words about it but it is an all around excellent film. I’ve yet to see one bad PSH performance but this one may be his best. 2hrs 10 min. Will get nods for Picture. Good chance of winning original screenplay and acting awards. If it were me, I’d put them both in the Best Actor category but if one them is getting the supporting nod, its Hoffman. It will have its fair share of detractors and its not a “safe” choice. If you guys can, see The Master in 70 mm. Looked gorgeous and its the way P.T Anderson wants you to see it.“
BobFilm: “I’m still digesting everything I saw, but it was pretty amazing. It was like a strange fever dream. [But] not audience friendly AT ALL. An ambiguous ending and not one likable character. And without any ‘milkshake’ lines, it probably won’t have the breakthrough that There Will Be Blood had… There are three or four scenes between Phoenix and Hoffman that are barn burners. It also containts the best work Amy Adams has ever done… Phoenix WILL win Best Actor unless Daniel Day Lewis blows us away with [his] Lincoln performance. This is Raging Bull territory for him. Believe it or not, his performance is stranger than that fake doc he made.”
However, not everyone was thrilled with the film:
@LRonHubbard: “Can’t believe I traveled all the way back to Earth to see the early screening of #TheMaster ..Utter f**king bullshit. An absolute cinematic hocus pocus dump-fest.”
@TomCruise: “So horrifically bad that I actually, for a moment, considered going on anti-depressants.”
Back to the positive reviews:
@TotallySketch : “Just saw ‘The Master’. A movie has never made me feel quite like this one did. I can’t describe it or even rate it. I am speechless.”
@pillowfightin:“Saw The Master in 70mm at the Aero Santa Monica. Surprise screening after The Shining. Its like nothing yvever seen before.”
@jessecrall:“The Master: B+ hazy, meandering story with beautiful staging and headed by Phoenix’s brilliant, year’s-best performance.”
@Super_Matts:THE MASTER is…interesting…I’ll be thinking about it for days #THEMASTER70MM J Phoenix and P S Hoffman are out of this world”
@aaldere1: “The Master was amazing. Oscars all over this one.”
@LoganDoe:“Hoffman is one of the finest actors alive. The Master is (more) proof. #themaster”
[via The Playlist & Cigarettes & Red Vines]