The film dehumanized poor cajun folks (not merely blacks) while at the same time placing them on a higher spiritual plane than that of the middle/upper class. It was nearly impossible to root for the white volunteers despite your better judgment, which is a sign of successful director manipulation. Whether or not he used this power wisely, however, is debatable. It was certainly a flawed film, though the dialogue and performances were intoxicating and the film itself looked great. I have mixed feelings about it, but I think I liked it.
When on a bit of a pre-Oscar movie bender tonight, watching Lincoln (8.5/10), Amour (8.5/10) and The Master (8/10). All fantastic movies, for completely different reasons. I realize that conservative films like Lincoln can be inadvertently polarizing, but that movie was so well crafted, I have no desire to defend my love for it. It's Great. Boring as a dog's ass, maybe, but Great. Amour was the same way. Not for everyone, but the performances breathed life into a screenplay rich with symbolism and nuance. Lovely.
The Master got boned by the Academy, straight up. Compared to distinctly average films like Argo and Silver Linings Playbook, The Master was edgy, ugly, and unique. It's far from Anderson's finest work (he's arguably my favorite director of the last 20 years, so it has a rich body of work to compete with), but it was a tense, uncomfortable buddy picture that completely redefines the way one imagines buddy pictures. The platonic love the two male leads have for one another is disarming and truly unexpected, but it becomes the lifeblood of the film. If anyone asks you what it's about, tell them it's a love story. Phoenix plays a quirky, pathetic loser in an engaging way, which isn't that hard to do, but Hoffman is truly special here. There is so much angst and measured resentment in his performance that the bile seemed to drip from his pores. If I have any real issue with the film, it's the rather draining midsection that focuses on Freddie Quell's treatment. It didn't engage me the way the rest of the film did. Otherwise, very good work. Again, it's better than at least two of the Best Picture nominees and probably a couple more.