The Master

     The Master is Paul Thomas Anderson's newest film, and though it may not seem apparent on the first watch, it may one day be considered a masterpiece. The film centers around the life of Freddie Quell, an unstable war veteran who is looking to restart his life. After trying many different occupations, Freddie ends up aboard a ship on which he first encounters Lancaster Dodd, who describes himself as, "a writer, a doctor, a nuclear physicist, and a theoretical philosopher." Dodd is the leader of The Cause, a religion and way of life not only founded by Dodd, but also constantly created by him. As Freddie becomes more involved with the Cause, his relationship with Dodd deepens, a relationship in which both parties benefit from the other. Through his involvement with the Cause, Quell discovers a new confidence in himself, realizing that he doesn't need a master in his life.
     The first thing to note about the Master is the fact that Anderson decided to shoot the film in 65 mm, resulting in beautiful imagery. The camera work is amazing, and nothing less than would be expected from P.T.A. There are multiple long shots, including the wonderful "Get Thee Behind Me Satan" mall shot, and the intense and personal processing scene between Quell and Dodd. These shots do a great job of creating the feeling of being right there in the scene with the characters. They are also a great tool used by Anderson to get the most out of his actors; by leaving the camera rolling on them, it lets them explore their characters more.  Sound also plays a huge role in the film, specifically Jonny Greenwood's wonderful score. The film begins with the score being the only audio, and it compliments the first scenes of Quell on the beach perfectly, specifically the rhythmic percussion sounds.
     Paul Thomas Anderson used all of these elements combined to create an astoundingly great film. The performances by Hoffman and Phoenix are possibly the best of their careers, and a lot of this accomplishment is due to P.T.A's directing style. He presents this story of self-discovery in such a deep and fleshed out way that one may sit there while the end credits role wondering about what they just watched and what they were supposed to come away with. It is only through multiple viewings that The Master can be fully appreciated.