Arriving on DVD and Blu-Ray Combo Pack, February 26th -- The Master (Review)

ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT and THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY MESMERIZE AUDIENCES WITH THE COMPELLING AND CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FILM

Pre-order now on DVD for only $18.99 and Blu-Ray, $25.49 at Amazon.

Nominated for Three Academy Awards® and Three Golden Globes®

Directed by Academy Award®-Nominated Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson,
THE MASTER Heads To Retail On February 26, 2013!

"Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company announced today the and DVD release of THE MASTER, the innovative film that has won over audiences and critics alike. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood), the 1950s-set drama centers on the relationship between a charismatic intellectual known as “The Master” (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Moneyball) who creates a belief system which catches on with other lost souls – and a young WW-II veteran (Joaquin Phoenix, Gladiator) who becomes his right-hand man. In addition to Hoffman and Phoenix, the film also stars Amy Adams (Doubt) and Laura Dern (Little Fockers). THE MASTER heads to retail on February 26, 2013 for an SRP of $39.99 for the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and $29.98 for the DVD.

Haunted by his past, WW-II veteran and drifter Freddie Quell crosses paths with a mysterious movement called The Cause, led by Lancaster Dodd aka “The Master” and his wife Peggy. Their twisted relationship is the core of this film that is “a glorious and haunting symphony of color, emotion and sound with camera movements that elicit an involuntary gasp and feats of acting that defy comprehension (A.O Scott, The New York Times).”

Joe Neumaier of The New York Daily News declared THE MASTER, "the season's first Oscar contender." THE MASTER received the following 2012 Academy Award® nominations - Joaquin Phoenix for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Philip Seymour Hoffman for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Amy Adams for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The film received three Golden Globes® Nominations including Best Actor in a Drama Joaquin Phoenix, Best Supporting Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and Best Supporting Actress Amy Adams.

Awarded Best Actor for both Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson at the 2012 Venice Film Festival, THE MASTER is a film “that casts a spell like a fever dream (David Ansen, Newsweek).”

Stunningly photographed in 65mm, THE MASTER stands as an undeniable cinematic experience. Will Freddie be able to outrun his past? Will The Cause help or hurt him? Can this tortured, violent creature be civilized? Or is man, after all, just a dirty animal?

THE MASTER Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD special features include: “Back Beyond” which features outtakes and additional scenes edited to music by Johnny Greenwood; “Unguided Message,” an 8 minute short / behind the scenes; Teasers/ Trailers. The Combo Pack also includes an additional special feature “Let There Be Light (1946), John Huston’s landmark documentary about WW-II veterans.” Note: Special features are subject to change."

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My Thoughts:

I have to admit, I knew that this film would be heavy and one that would be hard to follow, after reading numerous reviews (both positive and negative) about this upcoming release.  But, after watching it this past weekend, this psychological drama drew me and made me have to watch it a second time to truly grasp the movie and the characters.  As I watched it the first time, I found it hard to follow the characters, as they tried to find peace with themselves and the reason for their being.  Some people have claimed that this movie is a cult-like film, which raises questions about so-called religious practices like Scientology, and will either turn you on or off as a viewer, as you watch Philip Seymour Hoffman as the "Master" in this perplexing, yet stunning movie.

Yes, I found myself scratching my head at times and wonder what roller coaster ride I was taken on.  But, after watching the film the second time, I began to understand it more, and see why so many other viewers can't stop talking about this film.

I am not going to try to explain the in and outs of this film, but will say that Academy-Award-Nominated filmmaker, Paul Thomas Anderson, has done it again, with "The Master."  You will find yourself trying to take all the characters and their back stories in, as you are taken on a psychological rollercoaster, as you watch a religious movement known as "The Cause" play out on your television screen.

If you are looking for a thought-provoking film, that will have you discussing it for days/years later, then you will want to give "The Master" a try. But, if perplexing films that make you think and oftentimes require you to watch a film 2-3 times to fully grasp the plot and understand it, then you may want to pass on this film.  My husband and I plan to watch this film again in the coming weeks and continue our discussion on "The Cause" movement and PTSD from soldiers returning back and trying to get acclimated back into civilian life.  You can't help but want to talk about this film with others who have seen it, once you put the time into watching and trying to understand this psychological drama.

And, if you do end up watching this movie, I'd love to hear what you thought of it, by leaving a comment in the comments section below.

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this movie from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.