The Master (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2012) Joaquin Phoenix (Oscar), Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
I feel grumpy about The Master (P. T. Anderson, 2012). I was over Joaquin’s character very quickly when I found he is a sociopathic alcoholic. And what’s with his speech? Does the actor always talk like that because he’s had a cleft palate repaired (he hasn't), or was that supposed to be part of his ‘characterisation’? Anyway, I couldn’t understand much of what he said throughout, which may not have mattered if he was only talking rubbish—like most of the script. But it made the film more tedious. I resorted to reading online reviews. They were mostly genuflectant—but I suspect it’s because they didn’t know what to make of the flick, had tight deadlines, and pretty-much followed the presskit. And what’s with Hoffman’s character singing an explicit lovesong to JP’s? And rolling around on the grass in an embrace with him? Eccentricity? I don’t think so. Homosexual lust? Looks more like that.
If Joaquin Phoenix wins Best Actor for this (he did), it will confirm that the USA has a dangerous love of violence per se. Whether or not, this is a love story.
reviews | Garry Gillard | New: 1 March, 2017 | Now: 21 February, 2022