The Master

[thepaulo]

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Crazy Joaquin is Back.

[thepaulo]

I identify with Joaquin.

[realmenhatelife]

bater

[cougarjake13]

have no idea what that movie is about but looks interesting

[PapaBear]

have no idea what that movie is about but looks interesting
The insinuation is, it's inspired by the Super Adventure Club.

[cougarjake13]

The insinuation is, it's inspired by the Super Adventure Club.





again im clueless

[realmenhatelife]

PT Anderson has said that the movie is about scientology idea wise but it's not about scientology in actuality, and it isn't meant to be an expose on scientology. I think he said something like it's about scientology the same way There Will Be Blood is about the Upton Sinclair book OIL! that it was based on. That is to say, it isnt.

He felt comfortable enough to screen it for Tom Cruise who said he really liked it.



And I think Magnolia is kindof overrated.

[PapaBear]

again im clueless
I'd explain it further, but due to my current romantic involvement with Katie Holmes, I'm bound by her recent non disclosure agreement.

[fezident]

This movie is a substantial piece of work. It's a lot to take in. A lot to comprehend. It takes it's time... and it sucks you in.

I think it will really polarize people.
Some people in my theater actually walked out about 30 mins in. Many other people were totally engrossed.

It's not a "pleaser". And it definitely isn't any "fun". But it certainly does enlighten.

[thepaulo]

I think PT has turned into the best filmmaker of his generation. He is a master.

[booster11373]

I saw this yesterday and have been thinking alot about it.

Both JP and PSH give great performances and I would expect JQ to be nominated come award season

The film was shot beautifully

My problems were with the plot you dont really get to know why JQ is so damaged or why PSH is doing what he is doing.

The film is about Scientology but doesn't really explore it or the reasoning behind it.

The nude scene sort of baffled me was it in Freddie's imagination or did it actually take place

[thepaulo]

I saw this yesterday and have been thinking alot about it.

Both JP and PSH give great performances and I would expect JQ to be nominated come award season

The film was shot beautifully

My problems were with the plot you dont really get to know why JQ is so damaged or why PSH is doing what he is doing.

The film is about Scientology but doesn't really explore it or the reasoning behind it.

The nude scene sort of baffled me was it in Freddie's imagination or did it actually take place

Nude scene was imagined because he was undressing all the women in the room.

[fezident]

Booster,

I think think the problems with the plot were addressed, in a way.

During his "processing", it's established that Freddie has a ton of chaos in his background.

His mother was institutionalized (likely mood disorder or what have you, that Freddie possibly was prone to)

His father died while he was young. (no father figure)

He had sex with Aunt on more than one occasion. (his boundary issues and sex obsession likely stems back to that)

He was a soldier who had scene combat. (post traumatic stress)



These factors very likely lead to his alcholism.

Add to that, he was making his own drinks using either paint thinner or photography developing chemicals, and at one point... he was even drinking brake fluid or transmission fluid or whatever the fuck that stuff was! He was in a damaged & delicate state. I mean... that stuff actually killed one of his coworkers!



Now, Lancaster's character's background is not explored... but I think that is part of the plot. I think he's supposed to be mysterious and seductive to the audience... just as he is mysterious and seductive to Freddie.
If we think that he's fascinating... it's likely that Freddie's character would find him equally fascinating.



Of course... we eventually learn that he's a fraud. But we learn it on our own time... which is exactly how Freddie comes to realize it, and hence... he can't be "cured".

[booster11373]

The not Blinking scene was pretty amazing.

Maybe my issue is that I never really understood what Freddie gets from LD, He never stops drinking and seems like his rage is always right below the surface. I could see that Freddie is just a weak guy who was looking for a "master" but then he leaves twice

[fezident]

The not Blinking scene was pretty amazing.


It truly was! During that scene... in my theater.. you could hear a fucking pin drop. Everybody was engaged. I love that shit.

My favorite thing about that scene was, Lancaster admonished Freddie to not blink,.. or they'd have to start the exercise over from the top. A couple of times, Freddie blinked... and they did start again. But then... when Freddie was having his major breakthrough... he was blinking a lot, but Lancaster DIDN'T start the exercise over again. He knew he had Freddie. He knew he was "in".
Really strong performances there.

I too wondered "why is Freddie hangin' around? what's the upside for him?"
It was clear that he didn't want to get clean.
Perhaps a drifter such as Freddie just had no place else to go. No place to turn. Maybe he thought would clean up "someday". It's never really explained.



I did see a few similarities between The Master and There Will Be Blood.
In both movies, there are two con men trying to outsmart each other. In the other movie, Daniel knows damn well that he's not really drilling that oil-well so that he can build roads and schools and churches for these townsfolk. He knows he's not doing it so that these small towns will thrive. But he promises them all these things so that he can get his way.
Likewise... the preacher (Eli, I think) knows damn well that he can't heal the sick. Nor can he commune with god... nor can absolve their sins ... etc
But he promises his flock of all these things so that he can get his way.


The Master had some of those same elements.
Freddie was attracted to Lancaster's daughter (who also was attracted to him) and he, of course, kept that a secret. He continued to drink even after he promised to stop. But he told Lancaster what he wanted to hear... most likely for free room & board. etc.

Lancaster knew that he was a total fraud. He knew there was no "data". (great scene, BTW)
but he tells Freddie that his religion is real, most likely to keep Freddie around so that Freddie can beat-up the naysayers and skeptics and those that refer to their religion as a "cult".

It's a win/win.

[realmenhatelife]

On why Lancaster keeps Freddy around:

I think to Lancaster, Freddy represents the portion of himself that he's struggling to keep under control. He wants to cure Freddy to believe that he can continue to master his own demons, like his alchoholism and his anger.

Also, I think he wants to bang him.

I liked it fine and everything I just prefer that movies have a stronger narrative. I can appreciate the looseness of this but I think Paul Thomas Anderson has been much better at hammering a narrative out of a collection of characters. It does seem like a companion piece to There Will Be Blood and I wonder if he'll do one more so he can have a trilogy, kindof a self made men, shapers of new America thing.

[realmenhatelife]

What was with all that singing?