The Master

[Donreel]

Spoilery --------



A collection of engaging, watchable scenes....an almost frightening performance by Phoenix.....solid work as always by PSHoffman......

.....But no story to speak of, no driving narrative, little development of theme or purpose. I don't mind long movies, and this one didn't drag, but at two and a quarter hours I want to be taken on a life journey, an arc as it were, but this movie didn't do it. Essentially, it was a showcase for the two leads to repeat their character-defining behaviors over and over again.

I got their characters in the first 30 minutes; after that I wanted a story. I was expecting a somewhat traditional plotline of a cult leader rising from obscurity to the heights, then to be unmasked and disgraced--that would have been satisfying, but it's not what this movie delivered, and probably not what I should have expected from this auteur.

So, it was....artistic and serious, and at the same time, disjointed and monotonous.

[medic1]

Re: The Master

Spoilery --------



A collection of engaging, watchable scenes....an almost frightening performance by Phoenix.....solid work as always by PSHoffman......

.....But no story to speak of, no driving narrative, little development of theme or purpose. I don't mind long movies, and this one didn't drag, but at two and a quarter hours I want to be taken on a life journey, an arc as it were, but this movie didn't do it. Essentially, it was a showcase for the two leads to repeat their character-defining behaviors over and over again.

I got their characters in the first 30 minutes; after that I wanted a story. I was expecting a somewhat traditional plotline of a cult leader rising from obscurity to the heights, then to be unmasked and disgraced--that would have been satisfying, but it's not what this movie delivered, and probably not what I should have expected from this auteur.

So, it was....artistic and serious, and at the same time, disjointed and monotonous.

i am in complete agreement... and yes, phoenix was awesome.
spoilers-
the story meandered with no real direction after freddie joins their "cult". i really wanted the son to question why he kept freddie around and for lancaster to defend his decision because he was sent.
they could have really exploited the mind games and after awhile, freddie seemed to be the only normal one who was looking for answers and more importantly wanting change.

i noticed this is tanking at the box office. word of mouth is evidently not too positive.