The Master

[gitsie007]

This movie looks great and I cant wait to see it.

It looks like Joaquin's character gets sucked in and eventually has some sort of breakdown, judging by his scenes in the trailer.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman's resemblance to LRH is uncanny..

Here's an article about 'The Master' stating the similarities between $cientology and the cult featured in the movie...

link

[waytoocheerful]

I had it in my head this, "Hooray for Scientology!" movie, and there was no way in hell I'd watch one of those.

I was seriously worried somebody had sucked Joaquin into another cult. Thank goodness I read this thread!

[gitsie007]

This movie is definitely anti-$cientology, anti-cult from the looks of it.

[huntergrayson]

PTA apparently wants this to be screened in 70 mm in as many places as possible. Alas, there are few theaters/cities that can, but if any company can make that happen (given how it seems to be Awards Gold based on the early word), it's The Weinsteins. (Which, I've said for years that I would rather see Hollywood revive 65/70mm than putting all its eggs 3D.)

People who were going to see a Shining screening here in LA managed to get a free secret screening of this and it is apparently amazing.

[huntergrayson]

Double-posting to say HOLY MOTHER OF XENU.

Yeah, see this in 70 if you can. I wish TWC were Fox Searchlight right now because they are so good about announcing release dates/theaters but the unofficial PTA fanpage has a list.

And the Venice dual-win for Best Actor is just the beginning of a bucketload of awards for Joaquin and Hoffman.

[WitchyPoo]

Seattle's getting a 70mm print starting next week! I don't get to the movies much these days but I will always pay money to see PTA films.

[Deleted]

The indie theater near me that sells beer is gonna have it in 70mm starting Friday. Awesome.

[Deleted]

I want to see this movie like no other movie in recent memory. I lurve PTA films ("Boogie Nights" is in my all-time top three) and am endlessly fascinated by all things Scientology, so this is made of win. There's a 70mm screening about an hour away from me but I don't think I can swing it.

huntergrayson, if you saw it I would love to hear more of what you think of it.

[huntergrayson]

To be totally honest, it was so visually overwhelming that I need to rewatch it to fully process everything else. I literally gasped out loud at the beauty of some shots.

Plot-wise, I'm still not entirely sure what went on - but that's without being a "puzzle" film like Inception or Memento or pure abstraction ala Malick. There are a couple scenes or shots that are obviously filtered through Joaquin's character's POV/damaged psyche. But there are whole swaths of the film that feel oddly dreamlike. Then some scenes which seem very very deliberately stagey.

It's not exactly a huge anti-Scientology rant nor a yay!Xenu! celebration - PTA keeps stuff vague and broad, which I think makes it more interesting than a simple "cults are bad" message.

[butternut]

Plot-wise, I'm still not entirely sure what went on - but that's without being a "puzzle" film like Inception or Memento or pure abstraction ala Malick. There are a couple scenes or shots that are obviously filtered through Joaquin's character's POV/damaged psyche. But there are whole swaths of the film that feel oddly dreamlike. Then some scenes which seem very very deliberately stagey.

Great description. I saw it last night. JP and PSH at their finest, and the film itself is so beautiful. I just went along for the ride without trying to figure out the plot. More reason to see it again!