The Master: Must watch

The Master
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
Rated: 6.5/10
Beautifully picturised, strangely hypnotic but extremely original film The Master examines cult dynamics of the 50s-era.
Film-making artistry aside, writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson’s picture hits home as a period-perfect examination of a perpetually recurring truth.
Andersonbrings cult behaviour into fascinating focus by examining the bond between two characters portrayed by extraordinary actors: The accidental, alcoholic seeker Freddie Quill, played by Joaquin Phoenix, and the suave, all-American swami Lancaster Dodd, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
While the narrative can be extremely hard to grasp, Anderson’s script is nonetheless crafted with an exactness and authority that assures depth and reward for those willing to dig deep. The movie is sectioned into three acts, each headlined by a recurring image of water (at times churning violently, at times flowing serenely) trailing in the wake of some unseen vessel.
You may not get all of it the first time around, but that won’t keep it from taking root somewhere deep in your mind — like the hypnotising rhythm of a cult mantra. All in all a must watch.
Source: The Sunday Pioneer, 17 March, 2013

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