I had been lamenting recently that the films that I had seen this year as part of the Oscar-cache were not as exciting as I wanted them to be...... and then I came upon 'The Master' which I have to say was the best of the lot. Rather unintentionally, the best had been saved for the last. It is certainly not an easy film to watch. It's disturbing, and some may also be annoyed by the fact that it appears vague, distant and incomprehensible at times. But, if one scrapes the surface, one is certain to establish a connect that is deep and stirring. The performances are all top notch and Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman are showcased at their very best by the material, vastly talented as they both are, as actors. Even the likes of Amy Adams, Rami Malik, Laura Dern and Joshua Close garner attention. The musical score by Jonny Greenwood is haunting, and is an asset indeed, the other major asset being the stunning cinematography provided by Mihai Mălaimare, Jr.
6 comments:
Intrigued. Much intrigued.
THE MASTER is definitely not an easy film to watch. It can't be consumed like fast food. But it is introspective, and stimulating. I thank you for writing on it, and talking about it as well, and I admit that I felt indirectly goaded to watch it as fast as I could. I was moved, mesmerized, and maddened. Loved the film. Would watch it again after a while. Maybe I'll have fresher insights then.
I felt most disturbed by the fact that the flaws and the deceits can also be made to look so beautiful on screen. The characters with warts and all are flawed and yet we can't help feeling some kinda empathy for them. The heavily orchestrated background score along with some classic numbers of the bygone era create an ominous and creepy effect. Yet the visuals are oh-so-stunning! What a film!!! Wuuufffff!
I found the film to be too gritty for comfort. However, the visuals were really awesome and stayed with me even after the film's end credits rolled.
I am a huge fan of Joaquin Phoenix and hence I watched the movie just for him. He has given a stellar performance which should have got him an Oscar, although the odds were against him because of the natural favorite Daniel Day-Lewis.
What a film! It blew my mind!!!!!
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