Film Review - The Master (2012)

The Master is written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and stars Joaquin Phoenix as Freddie Quell, a man who serves in the navy during World War 2 but when the war ends doesn't know what to do with himself, one night however he comes across a mysterious man named Lancaster Dodd (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) who may hold the key to his salvation.

The Master is certainly a weird film to be sure but it's one that also overcomes that to deliver what is a finely crafted film, Anderson's eye for direction and editing are on show throughout the whole film always making sure that things don't run on too long nor does he insert scenes and editing shots where he doesn't need to, happily letting scenes play on in a natural flow that is rarely seen in films today as there is a near constant need to have a edit every 2 seconds, Anderson doesn't do that and as a result the film flows a lot better and doesn't make you think that it runs too long for its own good.

Technically however the film is first rate with the cinematography, production design, costumes and musical score all being of very high quality and each element helps to immerse you in both the world of the film and the period in which its set and not once will you get bored looking or listening to any of it as there is always something new to look at in each frame.

But my last bout of praise has to go to the performances, Phoenix and Hoffman are very good and play off each other very well which helps to serve the relationship the two characters have in the film but my favourite performance in the film has to be the one by Amy Adams who reminds us all how good she can really be with the right part and here she makes you think that she is the Master of the film with her quiet sense of dignity and authority that also comes across as quietly chilling at times, definitely not one woman you would want to mess with.

But all in all, the Master is a well made film but it's also a film I would say that I admire more than I enjoyed which is not as some might say is a bad thing, far from it in my eyes but it would also be a hard film for me to recommend but if you are keen to see it then I will do just that if you're not or your unsure about it then I won't, 3 and a half out of 5.