The Master (2012) - What Am I Missing?

Dunno how to even comment on this without you elaborating on what your actual issues with it are. If you have problems with the script then say what they are. I love this movie and think it's brilliant, top tier PTA for me

The Master is my favourite PTA film. The acting is top notch, the film looks fantastic and I love the post-war late 1940s/early 1950s production design. I found the story and homoerotic relationship between Freddie and Lancaster Dodd to be fascinating. Give it a rewatch. If it still does nothing for you, maybe it's just not a film for you.

What do you not understand about the script? It’s about two men from very different walks of life influencing each other. The film touches on themes of post-war isolation, religious manipulation, women’s influence over men, and general loneliness.

The Master definitely feels like PTA's most abstract film and I get why it doesn't click for some people. I had the same reaction on first watch - kept waiting for a traditional narrative arc that never really comes. The whole thing is more about the psychological dance between Freddie and Dodd than any concrete plot progression Second watch helped me appreciate how it's basically studying these two damaged men who need each other but can never actually connect. Freddie's this feral post-war mess and Dodd is this charismatic fraud, and they're both wrestling with control and dependency in ways that mirror cult dynamics without being a straight cult movie The funding issues definitely show - you can tell PTA had to cut some connective tissue between scenes. But Phoenix and Hoffman are doing some next level character work that carries the weird pacing. I'd say give it another shot but go in expecting more of a character study than a story with clear beats. It's definitely his most divisive for good reason though

I don’t like it. I tried watching it 4 times over a couple years before finally getting through the whole thing.

Awesome movie . One of PTAs best . Note to self : don’t build sand castles with Joaquin phoenix

First, knowing about L. Ron Hubbard and scientology helps. Although not a straight skewering of the cult, it is very clearly inspired by Hubbard's life. Second, focus on the character-work and the performances over the plot. Who controls who? That's the crux of the film. Third, did I mention the performances? Holy c***. I initially gave it 3/5. With subsequent views it went up 4/5, 5/5, and now it's my all time favorite film. Ultimately it boils down to the vibe, the score, the characters, at least for me.

It's my favorite of his followed by Inherent vice. It's kinda hard to follow what you didn't like about it.

It’s okay if you don’t really like a movie. I’d just return later down the line and give it a rewatch, you may like it more or less.

If it helps, Joaquin Phoenix's character, Freddie, is representative of the Id of the Lancaster Dodd character, which is an overt representation of L. Ron Hubbard, who founded scientology.

This is my favorite PTA film. I love it because of the score, the photography (I think this is the best looking PTA film) and performances; the wild, out of control, monkey-like Freddie Quell, the shady, oblique charismatic leader Lancaster Dodd and his Lady Macbeth wife (is Amy Adams's character the real The Master of the story?) I love this film because I never knew where this story was going. I love the tone of the film; it's very funny, it's strange, it's creepy and even downright disturbing in places and even moving (I think the last scenes with Freddie and Lancaster parting ways and Freddie picking up a woman and the last scene on the beach is absolutely moving). And above all, the film is so mysterious - and I love mystery (I can't really describe what is this film about or even give a clear synopsis - you just have to experience it). Just to clarify, I think There Will Be Blood is still PTA's "best" film but personally, The Master is my favorite film of his. Every time I watch it I get something different from it - that's why this is my favorite film.

I think I've got a solid handle on this film; I've written a quasi-essay breaking down its characters, narrative, and themes. If you're interested, Unlikely_Benefit8655, I'll DM it to you (--so I won't clog-up your thread with a wall of copy, or deter any other people from giving you *their* thoughts).