Cinematrimony: The Master
by Matt Scalici on Oct.11, 2012, under Reviews & Podcasts
Matt and Francesca Scalici return with another episode of Cinematrimony. This week, Matt and Francesca discuss Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master featuring buzzed-about performances by Joaquin Phoenix, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. Does PTA’s latest effort pack the same punch as There Will Be Blood? Will this movie be one of 2012′s top Oscar contenders? Listen as Matt and Francesca discuss this and more on this episode of Cinematrimony.
October 16th, 2012 on 4:26 pm
“I hate to mis-characterize the Film Nerds,” followed by GROSS MISCHARACTERIZATION.
Kidding. Not “gross,” but still.
I said in our discussion that the film DID have that emotional impact on me the way it didn’t seem to with Graham. I think I was probably the most positive out of the three of us, overall.
But is it your contention that your mind must be made up about any film each time after a SINGLE viewing? Your first reading of a piece of art, especially a film, is rarely ever the way you’ll always feel about it. In the case of THE MASTER, I feel strongly about my reading and love the movie (as I made clear on our podcast), but that doesn’t mean I don’t NEED to see it more than once to either confirm or clarify those feelings.
I’ve hated several movies I love now after the first time I saw them. Thought THE MATRIX was pure garbage. I was wrong. I think I know how I feel about THE MASTER, but it might leave me much colder next time. Who knows?
Point is, it’s not uncommon or impractical to think you need a second or third go-around with a thematically rich and complex film before you know how you really feel about it. Even if there are years that separate the viewing. I’d bet you both feel MUCH differently about this movie the next time you see it. If you do. Because, you know, your mind is made up and all.
Good show.
October 17th, 2012 on 4:13 pm
Ben, while I have changed my mind drastically about how I feel about a film before, that typically happens with movies I either HATE or LOVE upon my initial viewing. I rarely go from feeling “meh” about a film to loving it after repeated viewings. I don’t believe the substance is there in THE MASTER to make me have a truly deep emotional reaction to this film.