THE MASTER - There are a couple of things that struck me very odd about P.T. Anderson's decision to shoot this film in glorious 65mm. For one, there are very few landscape shots, with most of the film consisting of close-ups of various characters faces in cramped rooms and cabins. And for another, that this would be the film in which P.T. would choose (?) to jettison his usual, Academy Award winning Director of Photography Robert Elswit (whose work you can currently see laying fallow in the latest Bourne nonsense), in favor of Coppola's new favorite Mihai Malaimare Jr.
That being said; the movie is beautiful. And the score, by There Will Be Blood alum Jonny Greenwood, is just as haunting and memorable.
It's extremely difficult to talk about the themes of this film without outright spoiling it, no matter what one's interpretation of the story is. I will say this. . . The film is about man's quest for true independence; the ways in which he can become the master of his own environment; and the ways in which he has to negotiate with a higher power in order to achieve that goal. . . I'm happy with that cryptic summary.
It does have many, many shades of Scientology to it, and many parallels to the life of L. Ron Hubbard, but I don't believe that the film is actually ABOUT that. It's about the broader archetypes that this story allows Anderson to explore.
It isn't going to be for all tastes, but if you like intimate character dramas, particularly ones revolving around extremely flawed characters, this is definitely worth a watch.
REVIEW - 7 (LOVE)
PARANORMAN - Quite a bit more melancholy, and significantly darker than I expect a family film to be. Not just in terms of gore and inappropriate sexual innuendo (though it has that as well), but in how it deals with some very heavy themes about death, revenge, and forgiveness. This film has something to say beyond just the standard, pat, "Can't we all just get along?". Bravo.
The horror film references are numerous, but never obtrusive or distracting. (This is where I jab Quentin Tarantino in the ribs with my elbow.) The voice cast is excellent, and cast against type. (You have Anna Kendrick as a dumb blonde, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as a bully.) The stop motion animation is a delight.
A warning to parents; of the handful of family monster films coming out over the next few months, this one is the most likely to actually scare the shit out of them. I was fucking scared in a couple scenes, and I don't puss out easily. They made this thing a little too well at times!
REVIEW - 7 (LOVE)
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