The Master (2012)

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by nekz

In my opinion of the Oscar nominees this is the best film of 2012.

Comparing it to P.T.A's prior work, I don't know which I like better: There Will Be Blood or The Master.

This is a film I will revisit many times.

I made a statement on these boards months ago that a top ten list of 2012 is incomplete without a viewing of Anderson's the Master. Well, it took long enough but I can finally close the books on 2012.

Saw this yesterday and I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it as well as place it within Anderson's filmography.

For the longest time, Magnolia was my favorite Anderson film until I did a recent rewatch of Punch Drunk Love. Now, between that film and There Will Be Blood, I don't know which is my favorite of his. Combine that with my thoughts on the Master, I have this weird suspicion that the Master might creep up to number one of that list after a few more viewings.

It is expertly crafted to the nth degree on all phases. It is lyrical, aloof, beautiful, and yet very hard to pin down. As I left the theatre, I kept thinking that this is one of the oddest love stories I've ever seen. A film about two men who kind of complete each other in a sense that they both want/need/desire what the other is. There are numerous layers to this thing that I've yet to scratch the surface on but that was my immediate thoughts after just one viewing.

The performances are impeccable. If it wasn't for Daniel Day Lewis' stunning transformation into Lincoln, Phoenix would be a sure fire lock for Best Actor at the Oscars. Utterly trans-formative. Hoffman is Hoffman. That guy is practically great in every film he's in. But the big surprise (well not surprise) is Amy Adams. She's a ****ing knockout in this thing. Again, if it wasn't for Anne Hathaway's stunning part in Les Miserables, Adams takes home the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in a landslide. I'm still trying to decode her performance and her character.

It's going to take me a while to decrypt the Master. It's that layered. Still, how the Academy left this film off the Best Picture list is extraordinary. It's easily one of the top three films of the year.

And with this viewing, the collecting of the rest of Anderson's filmography on BD begins. The moment this film is on sale for 9.99, I'm purchasing all of his films in one shot. Hope that rumor about Punch Drunk Love is true....