I had heard quite a few peoples opinions on The Master before I went to see it a few weeks ago. Mark Kermode on BBC Radio 5Live seemed to like it and I had enjoyed Andersons previous offerings, Punch Drunk Love (the only good adam sandler film) and Boogie Nights (probably the only good Marky mark film)
The First Half starts out brilliantly. The costumes, the acting, and the music. The music is beautiful. However after about 45 mins I really was casting around for some plot.
I’m all for character pieces, take In the Mood for Love as an example, again great acting, music, sets et al but there was also a bit of plot. Not loads of plot, but enough to frame the acting and the music and blah blah blah.
Anyway Back to The Master.
After the half way mark I myself felt like I was trapped in a cult. The cult of arty cinema.
As I mentioned earlier I had indeed heard many reviews prior to buying a ticket. But everyone had been babbling on about the acting, the amazing acting and the costumes and the cinematography. People who don’t usually tell you about the costumes or cinematography when you ask about a film and I had been convinced because no one had said ‘its dull because they forgot to put any plot in’
The comunal effervescing about cinematography should have tipped me off. I should have realised this is exactly what happened when I went to see The Tree of Life and Melancholia. I get bored and then it feels like I am slowly being punished for having enjoying Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights.
Over all I would say. Don’t bother seeing it. Watch the trailer and download the sound track. It will be more enjoyable that way.
