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UPFRONTS 2013: The Overachievers 
The Weinstein Company has provided the first images from The Master, the Paul Thomas Anderson-directed film that stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams. In this clip there is no Hoffman, who plays a man who creates a belief system and watches it take off in post-war America. Phoenix plays a guy looking for something to believe in, who becomes the title character’s right-hand man who then begins questioning his course. Many reports have claimed this movie is about Scientology, but from what I’ve heard it is as applicable to Mormonism or any modern-day belief system that launches and draws a following. The film, which languished at Universal and then was orphaned because of its $35 million budget, finally got made because Megan Ellison had the money to allow Anderson to see through his vision. It is always a compelling vision, so good for Ellison, who can afford to take a risk on an auteur.
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Nice. Really looking forward to this.
Jonny Greenwood is THE MAN.
Yes.
This would not make me run to see this. someone would have to wake me up
Ya, no explosions, chase scenes or sex. Why would ANY 12 year old boy want to see this?
Wow. This looks incredibly intriguing. Phoenix’s performance looks amazing. And to think this got shelved at Universal so they could film – what? Battleship? That 200+ million dollar turkey?
This is a town without mercy. And without soul.
Good for Paul Thomas Anderson. Boogie Nights was one of the best films of the 90′s.
THAT is a very interesting trailer.
What it has to do with Scientology or Mormonism, I have no idea. But it looks good.
There is a really good break down of the trailer, with what they read in the script on Slate.com and it makes the inference that Hoffman’s character is basically L Ron Hubbard and Phoenix’s character is most likely based on Anderson’s father.
How could anyone who reads this site not understand the cynical state of Hollywood decision making? Of course, Universal chose a big action picture over this because that’s what gets the huge opening (or doesn’t!). It has all become about the big opening weekend. Even those who hate this mentality can’t wait to measure the numbers on Sunday night, as if this were a Super Bowl game.
Boogie Nights indeed is one of the great films of the 90s, but this looks incredibly esoteric, a tad pretentious and while those who mistake the vague and ambiguous for great art will like it, the studio will lose money.
Peter Berg — is that you?
Not sure if that really constitutes a “trailer”. Didn’t get much from it.
That said, I am interested in the concept, and am willing to give anything PT Anderson directs a chance (even if I am let down by the finished product). Nice to see Joaquin Phoenix back in the acting fold. That whole I’m Still Here schtick/mental breakdown was a a diversion from bright career.
That is a great trailer and I think it brings something into trailers that have been missing, it brings character. So many trailers try to show snippets of the plot and set pieces, those just get boring. This trailer gives a sense of Phoenix’s character, nothing more. It is bold and kind of brilliant.
PTA can do no wrong.
WOW.
I’m interested, but can’t wait to see where the spent the other $34,975,000. That’s about $25k on screen so far.
You *DO* realize this is a teaser, don’t you?
The scientology comparisons are incredibly apt. There are no broad comparisons to make, this film is about scientology. Hoffman’s character looks just like Hubbard and is described with the same exact words credited to the loon behind the religion. Many tests, etc. that are essentially exclusive to scientology have been worked into the plot. This is a very daring film and I am glad PTA had the balls and vision to complete it.
Also, that brilliant teaser! Those few minutes are better than anything we’ve seen in a cinema this year.
Yeah, it’s unambiguously Scientology (in the script, at least). Those tests, the years depicted, the “contract”, etc. That said, it IS applicable to Mormonism and, well, pretty much any other religion founded by a charismatic leader, which is what makes it not merely (or even primarily) a take-down or expose. It’s something much more fascinating. I’m in.
Phoenix is playing the Jack Parsons role here, Hoffman is Hubbard.
PTA is way in to esoterica. Lots of Freemasonic references in Magnolia….
Yes, but will T.C. still speak to P.T.A? The answer is yes. That which confers the potential for prestige, notoriety, fame, money…gets taken care of first. That obsession is the underlying animus for the cult’s financing. (Hence Cruise’s dismissal of Brooke Shields (“…look at her career…” is how I remember it.) Current Scientologists probably view themselves as “contract” players at a studio (that minor little billion year “contract” problem;) (remember – Hubbard developed it at roughly the same time as the contract system was falling apart permanently and about to come to an end (look sideways at the Celebrity Center; the obsession with neon signs like old-fashioned marquees – Times Square for instance.)Phoenix even looks like Cruise. And the wrestling is choice. I watched this without sound. Anderson – one of the very best. I’m particularly fond of “Punch Drunk Love-” Chaplin’s Tramp with sound set in ugly L.A. concrete. What he does with music in that is fascinating.
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I think this teaser is quite fascinating and Joaquin is totally back with such a strong and powerful presence. Looking forward to more
This trailer is the best film of 2012 so far. PTA is the greatest living American filmmaker since Stanley Kubrick died.
Wow! Huge fan of anything with Joaquin – so wish that was my nipple…