The Master (2012)

[andsoitgoes]

I think Magnolia will ALWAYS be my favorite. TWBB a close second and The Master coming in 3rd, but it's like a race between the best runners in the world, even if you come in 4th place in the Olympics, it's the bloody OLYMPICS!

I may need to give Punch another try, it's been many years but I couldn't express my disappointment in the film. I felt nothing and simply wasn't moved, or excited. It didn't connect in the least, and isn't even in the running for movies I care to own. Boogie Nights was okay, but that was as exciting as it ever got for me, just okay. Better than a lot of films, sure, but was it REALLY good? Not in comparison with the 3 I love of his. Not even in the same country.

One thing I have to state is my utter frustration on the lack of, well, anything on his releases. Magnolia, as anemic as it was, at least had one of the most compelling and addictive documentaries I've seen on a film. It was a direct trip into his mind, and I always love me some Fiona apple. The lack of commentary and, well, anything else is just a true bummer. I feel the same about the Cohen brothers films. To this day, the lack of commentary on No Country makes me about as sad as I could be. I still NEED TO KNOW:

[Show spoiler]was he behind the door?!?!

These directors are brilliant, and it's a shame that they aren't either able or willing to dedicate more time and energy to giving us more background, commentaries (seriously the best thing to happen to film since... Film

Originally Posted by Jumpman

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....