So I saw The Master yesterday at Nitehawk in Williamsburg, BK while stuffing my face with Nitehawk queso, a Nitehawk burger with tots, and croquettes. (What? The movie was 2 hours and 15 minutes long — what did you want me to do, starve?)
Despite what you may have read on the internet, I did not see this movie because I was wooed by some arty trailer campaign, I saw it because of my love for Philip Seymour Hoffman (in the early 2000s, I may or may not have ran a PSH fan page), Jessie Plemons (LANDRY 4 EVA!), and Joaquin Phoenix. Although I liked There Will Be Blood (cell phone ringing in the theater and all), I’ve never been a huge Paul Thomas Anderson fan.
And after seeing The Master, I can’t say he’s won me over yet. Although many critics have gone gaga over the film, I’m in the camp of Richard Corless of “Time” magazine, who originally titled his review “There Will Be Boredom.” Although visually beautiful, with some great moments, but the film ultimately fell flat by the end of the film. Boooo.
Two thumbs indifferent.
Watch the trailer… if you must: