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Related: Venice: ‘The Master’ And Joaquin Phoenix Draw Raves
Paul Thomas Anderson called The Master a “love story” between its two lead characters and addressed the issue of Scientology and its relationship to the film at a press conference in Venice this afternoon. The movie screened this morning and certainly calls to mind the controversial religion, but Anderson said it 
wasn’t the “whale in the room” that people thought. He said he based Philip Seymour Hoffman‘s character, Lancaster Dodd, in part on Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard, but added, “I really don’t know a whole hell of a lot about Scientology.” He also confirmed that he had shown the film to Hollywood’s most famous Scientologist, Tom Cruise, whom Anderson directed to an Oscar nomination in Magnolia. “Yes, I showed it to him. We’re still friends and the rest is between us,” he deadpanned.
The Master‘s stars, Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix, were also present at the standing room only press conference – Hoffman more so than Phoenix who chain-smoked on the dais, didn’t answer any questions and disappeared for a few minutes in the middle. Harvey Weinstein, who’ll release The Master on Sept 14, looked on from the front row. Hoffman, excellent in The Master as in his other collaborations with Anderson, called the director a friend “first and foremost… When we work together, it’s kind of like gravy.” Anderson noted that he had asked Phoenix “to be in every other movie I’ve done which is kind of a pain in the ass,” since the answer was always no until now. But, he said, “it was worth it.” Though the movie is complex, and may require repeat viewings, it is being praised as a master stroke of filmmaking and a tour de force for the leads.
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And on the seventh day, God created Paul Thomas Anderson.
Don’t you mean on the seventh day, Paul Thomas Anderson created God?
*like
Sounds good!!
“Phoenix who chain-smoked on the dais…”
Isn’t smoking indoors illegal in California? I guess Hollywood, who worked so hard to get all those anti-tobacco laws on the books, got a waiver on that one…
Ummm…they were in Venice, Italy. Not Venice Beach! For the Venice Film Festival…???
Smoking indoors is illegal in Venice, Italy also
“Phoenix who chain-smoked on the dais…”
Isn’t smoking indoors illegal in California?
The Venice Film Festival is in Italy, not CA
The other Venice, jbspry. Try to keep up.
I love how some of the critics are saying people may need to see this movie more than once. Sounds like TWC spin in anticipation that some will be underwhelmed and wonder what all the build up and hype was about.
“people may need to see this movie more than once.”
Uggh. That’s pure spin on the part of PT’s chums. This may be just a ponderous rumination on ego, power and groups. The inference to Scientology may draw crowds but once the negative buzz hits, it’ll be a box office dud.
Thanks for the scoop, Alice! I never would have thought PTA might make a movie that might not do great at the box office! Good forecasting!
Jeez, people who get involved with Anderson obviously hope to make money but they all understand that he’s not a gravy train.
PTA knows all the forms of great movie making but none of it’s substance.
lol @ “may require repeat viewings.” You mean, “you better see this movie several times to impress your friends and help pay off my houses and cars…”
I just got back from seeing 2016 and they showed a preview of this movie. You couldn’t tell what the heck the movie was about from the preview. Not even a hint that Scientology or anything like it is involved.
Another garbage movie from the leftist sleaze merchants in hollywood. no wonder revenue has been dropping.
I don’t think Drudge Report would have linked to this article if it was ‘leftist sleaze’…
Anyone who thinks you won’t get, at the least, interesting and thought provoking performances from a Phoenix, Hoffman pairing should go back over their previous pictures. These two actors could anchor an American Pie movie and still subtly surprise a viewer emotionally. I find the glass of these pessimistic comments to be half full-of-it.
Another attempt at a slash and burn about Scientology… Who cares?
I find comments based on personal opinions, prior to whatever twit is writing them has seen the movie, to be loathsome. Movies are personal experiences for the viewer. From the previews I’ve seen, and as a fan of Hoffman and Phoenix, I won’t miss this one. Whether it’s about Scientology (that i’ve observed up close and thought of P.T. Barnum afterward), or not is a moot point. Narrative fiction does not need to be representational to observe and comment. However, it must entertain. Character and performance have transformed more that a few movies that actually went nowhere. Cruise has made himself irrelevant as a serious actor and I challenge anyone who thinks he was ever a serious thinker. Box office is only an indicator of how well a movie has been sold, not of how important it is, or its quality. Those who judge art by dollars amounts don’t get it, and probably never will. Paul Thomas Anderson will make more movies because a man who can envision the complexity of various aspects of the human condition is essential to an industry that has mired itself down in technical tomfoolery. Like too much sugar, CGI and all the other ‘effects’ do not engage us like story and performance. After all, are we not men?
You’re one of those hipster people aren’t you.
L. Ron Hubbard and the fictional Lancaster Dodd may have much in common. And Scientology appears to be a dangerous Cult. I don’t care. I just love PTA movies
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master”, no, wrong, – he is “The Master”.
Mega Like!
Doesn’t Joaquin have about a foot on Miscavige?
I like the part about seeing the movie more than once. That’s what I do with poetry. It seems like you get more for your money when there is just too much to digest at one meal. Or….maybe it’s like advertising shampoo….the 3 words that sell the most shampoo in the world…. “rinse and repeat”.