Warning: Mild spoilers contained within...
Who else went in to see The Master expecting to officially have their minds well and truly blown? Who expected intense character-driven drama and intricate storytelling? Who felt a little short-changed? Sure, all the vital 'Paul Thomas Anderson' ingredients are there, but it seems they've not been mixed and merged together as well as we might have hoped. More than anything, the film's a bit of a mystery. It's very long, brilliantly acted, but ultimately not really worth the effort. There's a point in there though, somewhere.
The main chap's called Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) and he's pretty much a cross between Billy Mitchell, Michael Fassbender and Rudy off Misfits. He's a soldier and more than a tad messed up since returning from war, therefore he acts quite strangely most of the time. He also mumbles a lot, which is irritating at first but sooner or later you come to accept that, fuck it, you're not going to hear 100% of what the man says. You'll get over it. But, perhaps it's another reason why the story isn't particularly clear. Afterwards, there's a chance you'll be left with the impression The Master is a story about Rudy Mitchbender and his inability to behave normally, stay sober and so on and so forth, so he stumbles across a strange cult and it's leader who wishes to help him - he doesn't believe in it, but tries very hard to get sucked in and then - he runs off. Later, we discover that although he found the cult's beliefs didn't really help him, the hard work and determination involved in trying certainly did, considerably. And you'd be right - that's, roughly, what it's about. But then you'll think you've misunderstood because, surely, there's a whole lot more to all that you've just sat through? And yes, there probably is. But you're not sure. And because it's one of those movies people discuss over cheese and wine, you'll be frightened to just come out and say it - "it wasn't very good though, was it?"
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However! It is actually very good. If you accept that it's not very concise, a little confusing and sort of makes it up as it goes along you'll be fine. Focus on the characters and what they do and how they do it, then yes, hell yes - the performances here are incredible. Philip Seymour Hoffman is smashing as the twisted, mysterious, yet strangely pleasant, Lancaster Dodd. There are plenty of intense exchanges and arguments, there are some damn bizarre conversations too but all of them are entertaining to watch even if you're not sure why. Ask yourself - what's wrong with watching a film that doesn't have a clear direction, that's narrative is muddled, or even misleading? Let's face it, that's why we all love films like Pulp Fiction. Before tying everything together near the end, they're an unpredictable rollercoaster and you've no idea who it'll choose to focus on next or down which path we, the viewers, will be taken. The Master is quite similar, other than the fact it seems to forget about the obvious 'tying everything together' part and leaves it very much down to you to figure out. No harm in that either. Too many cinema-goers are obsessed with obtaining answers, answers, answers! Leave something open to interpretation. That way, everybody has a different experience, much the same as reading a book.
You'll be left wanting more, even though you don't really know what you've been given or what you'd like to see. The world and its characters are intriguing, 'The Cause' is fascinating and right the way through there's a sense that something sinister is bubbling under the surface. What? Well - that's left open to your interpretation. Go see it, then maybe go and see it once more, wrap your head around it, buy it on DVD, ponder and then decide that yes - you quite liked it. Because you did, didn't you...
★★★☆☆
Roo