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If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Worst film ever. Don't see how it was ever made, much less receive rave reviews and Oscar nominations. Are they kidding us? Disjointed, makes no sense, a hodgepodge of scenes that don't fit. Has the film industry degenerated to the point where we give up all hope of being entertained? Are we expected instead to play mind games with the producers? No thanks, I prefer crosswords.

So many interesting characters with absolutely nothing done with them. Were some scenes in Freddie's imagination..? Really disappointing as I loved the set-up, but it went nowhere and had no real conclusion

Director Paul Thomas Anderson has always been known for his character-driven narratives with hits like 'Magnolia', 'Inherent Vice' and the recent 'Phantom Thread'. However the director's best (at least in this writer's opinion) is this taut psychological drama that gave Anderson his first Oscar nomination for Best Director. Written by the director, the story follows a troubled WWII veteran, Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), who after a bender joins a mysterious group only known as the Cause. This group is led by the charismatic Lancaster Dodd (the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman), the titular character, who begins to form a controlled bond with the troubled Freddie until Freddie's behavior becomes too much to handle.In his second Best Actor nomination, Joaquin Phoenix delivers arguably his greatest performance as Freddie Quell. Coming across as a boorish, ape-like, trouble-making nuisance when we initially meet him, Phoenix begins to morph into a quiet fanatic of the Cause as he wins favor with Lancaster Dodd, but his prior behavior does not disappear no matter how much hypnosis is used to curb his fighting instinct. Able to convey his inner conflict mostly through quiet and menacing glares, it's the body language that speaks volumes to how incurable Freddie's PTSD and tendency for tussling is. When Phoenix does speak the well-crafted dialogue written by Paul Thomas Anderson, the actor conveys his dark sense of humor (particularly with Philip Seymour Hoffman) but also his inner torment when certain nerves are struck and agitate him; coming to the roots of his demons which will never leave him.As usual, Philip Seymour Hoffman shines in the role he is given especially in a juicy leading/supporting role like Lancaster Dodd. While we never actually learn how he gained his position or where the Cause originated, this adds to the mystery of how Dodd is able to wield such power over his followers. While this is denied by the director, an observant viewer will draw comparisons between Lancaster Dodd and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard; especially in how the Cause operates and looks for donations from wealthy clientele. Hoffman brings his trademark reserved charisma that radiates an aura of commandment, but also a caring nature for those close to him. Many of the late actor's greatest scenes come from his interactions with Joaquin Phoenix's Freddie (such as their first session together where Anderson flexes his comedic writing muscles and prowess for hitting the mark of inner character conflict), whom he initially treats as a surrogate son and treasures Freddie's commitment to the cult. However when Freddie's behavior escalates to reckless, Dodd begins to shun the army veteran after "treatment" fails to reign Freddie in. Probably the greatest showcase of the beginning of their fallout is after the two are arrested (Dodd for fraud and Freddie for fighting with the arresting police officers) where the two male leads snap and argue like caged tigers.A nod to the smaller role of Amy Adams as Peggy Dodd, the wife of PSH's Lancaster. While not really Oscar-worthy to this writer, Adams does a good job being the one who really holds the power between her character and Lancaster when the two are alone. Stated by Paul Thomas Anderson himself that 'The Master' is his personal favorite of his own work, it isn't hard to see why. The story is quite grounded as there are cults like The Cause who have been (and are still) around; again the film's cult is based on Scientology despite the director's denials. There is a message about mental illness with Freddie's struggle with his PTSD and the mind control used by the cult to control him, but also cautionary for the consequences of one's reckless behavior.

This movie is a deep one, the problem is that it is a deep journey to nowhere!We learn nothing from it, we don't enjoy watching it, and not even the good performances of the main actors overcome the sense that we have wasted our time watching a movie that isn't worth watching!This movie may have been done to please a group of individuals with too much money on their hands...1 out of 10, because we can't give 0. Faultless acting though.