So...not to be unempathetic...but...you know those homeless people you see on the street? The ones who are definitely suffering from some sort of psychosis? The ones with unfortunate hygiene and blankness behind their eyes? The ones who are withdrawing from an addiction or maybe are still addicted, itching for their next fix? These people can be a bit frightening, because they are desperate (as anyone would be without money or food or shelter or clothes), but also because they mutter to themselves, or sometimes it's screaming at others who exist or don't. They "see" and "hear" things that are most likely created in their minds. Well...it just so happens that PTA took one of those people you pass on the streets and made him the protagonist of The Master.
Joaquin Phoenix, though very committed to his character and successfully transformed, was a fairly unlikeable, unappealing lead, who we didn't truly get to know over the course of the film. We weren't shown what was happening under the surface, which might have made him more interesting and likeable. Most of his jokes revolved around sex and degrading women. In fact, his first few lines were "You know how to get rid of crabs? Shave one of your balls...then when the crabs go onto the other ball, burn em off!" He then proceeded to fuck a sand woman - that's right, a woman that had been carved out of sand. While his crass sense of humor and outrageousness was amusing and had some grit, it was also just really unpleasant. And this low-class gentleman was the character we followed throughout the film; he was the one we were supposed to relate to. At one point, Philip Seymour Hoffman's character (who I found much more interesting and multi-faceted), called Freddie Quell (Phoenix) an animal...and that's exactly what he was. He was pretty one-dimensional, resembling human nature at its lowest form: he was overwrought with sexuality, violence, and aggression. Oh, and he was an alcoholic. That's pretty much it. However, we never really explored what lead him to feel or behave this way. There were hints of PTSD from serving in the navy, but it wasn't fleshed out enough for us to understand. Hoffman's character grills Freddie in one scene, and we learn facts about Freddie's past, but it doesn't evoke empathy, understanding, or interest in his current state of mind.
I think the film would have been much more interesting if we followed the journey and struggle of The Master (Hoffman). He is a man and a leader, who tries to change people's way of thinking. It would have been interesting, to me, to understand his desires for making this faith-based organization, The Cause. We see a little bit of his anger at people who don't believe, but it would have been great to really feel his discouragement, frustration, or inspiration along with him.
The movie was also kind of confusing in parts...and not in the suspenseful, I want to figure this out, puzzle kind of way. Based on the editing, or improper storytelling, I didn't really understand how Freddie and the Master even came together. All of a sudden Freddie was on a boat being welcomed by Lancaster Dodd (Hoffman). I wasn't sure if Freddie snuck on, or if he got a job as a seaman. It was unclear, and that bothered me. Also, near the end, Hoffman sings A Slow Boat to China, a song that has not been mentioned in the movie thus far, and I just couldn't figure out the significance. It seemed fairly random and quite frankly, pretty damn awkward. Lastly, Lancaster tells Freddie that they've met somewhere before, and in the end he tells some story about them working together in Prussia, and I couldn't tell if he was being serious or if it was some story he'd imagined up (since reaching into "the imagination" was part of his theory for happiness and freedom). Because of these small details, it was hard for me to sink my teeth into their relationship - where it stemmed from and what it meant to each of them.
What I liked about the film was the cinematography and the look. The shots were, of course, very cinematic (well composed, well lit, eyegasmic framing, beautiful color palette, etc.) and I especially loved the sweeping, airy flashbacks to when Freddie pursued his 16 year old love. Yep, 16. Sidenote: Freddie sleeps with several seemingly normal women in the film, and I found it weird that anyone would want to be intimate or sexual with this guy...kind of baffling...and yeah the love of his life was much younger than him. Creepy. I also liked the interweaving of flash backs, reality, and different story lines. I thought the acting was engaging and well thought out, but it was also a bit over done. The performances felt almost theatrical - just very over the top characters with intensely honed, distinct traits - no subtlety, really. Phoenix contorted his face and hunched his back for the character, and while I respected his thoughtfulness and commitment, the choices were so glaringly obvious. Lastly, I thought it was interesting to watch some of the methods Lancaster/The Master used on his subjects - the hypnosis, the questions, the exercises. We were watching an eccentric, experimental therapist trying to understand people's psyches, so we tried to understand along with him.
My main problem with this movie, was a similar issue that I had with The Tree of Life. The movie is in love with itself. The close ups last way too long, and many of the shots are transparently trying to show oscar-winning performances or something of profundity. I find profound moments in small truthful performances or a subtle, realistic exchange between characters, not a close-up for 15 minutes of a man trying not to cry, and then one lone tear trickles down his face. It's just too much, and the goal is so obvious. The movie also lasted 2 and 1/2 hours. I never felt antsy or anxious to leave, and it did hold my attention, since it was a strong character study, but I didn't leave the theatre feeling moved or changed or inspired. The 2 1/2 hours just kind of passed, and then I wanted to get home to sleep.
I would only recommend The Master because it's not the typical kind of film you see in theaters these days, and I think it's always good to watch different ways of story-telling to broaden one's mind. But, overall, I wouldn't recommend the movie...for the reason I stated above. I was not moved. I did not feel. I did not care. And that, for me, means the film was not successful.
Learn more about it here: http://www.themasterfilm.com/
Some PTA related products:
Books:
Paul Thomas Anderson by Root, Colin [Paperback] (Google Affiliate Ad)
Paul Thomas Anderson (Google Affiliate Ad)
Blurays:
N01-0128678 Magnolia Blu-ray - DVD (Google Affiliate Ad)
Inet Video N01-0115597 Punch-Drunk Love Single Disc Edition DVD (Google Affiliate Ad)
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