20 / The Master / Paul Thomas Anderson

There's a part right at the end of The Master where Amy Adams' character says to Freddie Quell (the films lead, played by Joaquin Phoenix) "You cant take this life straight can you?" and that moment for me is the defining piece of dialog. The Master is about 2 characters who can't take life straight, one who relies on drink and the other who relies of his 'religion.' While there are obviously a lot of other things going on within the film these two characters interacting and trying to dull the pains of life together is the unequivocal focus. I have to say, as much as I wanted to, I didn't love The Master. It is a beautifully directed film, every shot is flawless and just a feast for the eyes. Johnny Greenwoods score is amazing and completely in your face in all the right ways. The performances are beyond perfect. There is such intensity in the characters and yet they remain completely believable. But despite this I was still left feeling slightly empty. But even saying that I feel conflicted.  It's a film that has left me confused and honestly, I feel like I should put off writing about it until I have seen it a couple more times. I can't seem to pinpoint anythings I actually didn't like about it. Yes, the film is almost completely lacking in any narrative, but that is not a problem for me. I enjoy the fact it's just a drifting portrait of these two drifting characters. It's fitting to the subject matter. I don't have a problem with the fact it works as purely a character study, but thinking about it I think I wanted to see more development from the characters. The fact that the film ended up right where it started with no obviously development was a problem for me. But then isn't that true of life? Life doesn't always turn out perfectly wrapped up for you. I feel like Anderson is playing with the audiences expectations, which while unsatisfying, I have to completely respect. He did the same with Magnolia, which is my favourite of his films. Leading the audience to believe one thing would happen, but then just throwing it completely off course. But with that film it was a convergence of so much narrative that provided this thing, where as with The Master it is the complete lack of narrative that does this for us. The beginning is the end, there is nothing else. Is he making me look at life straight by not providing me with a nice narrative? Am I being forced to take life the way these characters can't. Maybe that's why I'm left feeling empty? Maybe that's the point?