Paul Thomas Anderson’s THE MASTER is going to be great. I mean, how can it not? Every film he has directed so far has been a unique experience. I love MAGNOLIA and PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE. THE MASTER looks to be more in line with the aesthetic used in THERE WILL BE BLOOD, which is fine with me.
To capture those amazing visuals, Anderson has filmed a good amount of THE MASTER in 65mm. The guys over at SlashFilm have done a great job of breaking down how 65mm film is not the same as 70mm IMAX, but does show how much more fits into the frame. I would anticipate that we will get some sweeping skylines in this film. How that plays into the overall plot remains to be seen.
Plot: A 1950s-set drama centered on the relationship between a charismatic intellectual known as “the Master” whose faith-based organization begins to catch on in America, and a young drifter who becomes his right-hand man.
THE MASTER will re-team Anderson with his THERE WILL BE BLOOD composer Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. It has everything going for it except all of that hate from the pesky Church of Scientology. The debate continues as to whether this movie truly is about Tom Cruise-ism or not, but The Daily Beast put together a handy guide comparing THE MASTER to facts from the life of Scientology creator L. Ron Hubbard. Warning, reading the comparisons may be spoilers for the film.
Check out these new photos from THE MASTER, which opens on September 14th.