Monday, February 4, 2013

#14 - Tom Cruise Is Not Impressed


14 – THE MASTER:  This one is an acting masterpiece from Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix (what a great name).  A cult leader and a damaged lost soul try to find their way in this beautifully shot film.  Their camaraderie blossoms quickly, and they begin to expose doubts and weaknesses in each other.  The film explores whether or not we can truly change our nature without some massive life event happening to us.  Can we, through self-discipline and therapy, change our personalities for the better?  Cults and their obsessive members are also examined, and this cult relies much on the appeal and charm of its creator.  (continues after the jump)

Occaisonally the oddness of these characters and the lengthy dialogues they share bored me somewhat, and the running time could have been shortened.  But this is more than made up for by the amazing cinematography; here's an example:


The simplest scenes are shot with excessive attention to detail and at times it is like watching a painting unfold on a canvas.  The scenes on the ocean or any natural environment are stunning.   Interesting and debatable, the film ends with a question that is difficult to answer: have these two become better men for having met one another?  
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