The Master - Review

"He's making all this up as he goes along - you don't see that?"

The Master is an enigmatic film that's about the illusion of control.  Director P.T. Anderson has crafted another demanding film that necessitates multiple viewings.  I won't pretend to have picked up on all of his nuances nor do I know enough about Scientology to make the comparisons that other critics have. Regardless, the film seems to be dealing with, among other things, psychology.  The line between manipulation, research, and therapy becomes blurred throughout the film.  Hoffman's character is eloquent and assumes a role of supposed mastery and control, but can also explode with emotion at any moment.  His "program" establishes a following based on a philosophy that is held together by fluctuating principles.  Phoenix's character, too, is a ticking time bomb in his own right - more erratic, almost animalistic, and intermittently sympathetic.  The dynamic between the two is nothing less than compelling and is sure to gather much Academy recognition.

The film is a stylistic wonder and, if nothing else, just plain interesting.  The question could be raised if several scenes are real or imagined.  Even raising that question is an accomplishment in and of itself, and further represents the lines being blurred.  There aren't any absolutes in The Master, but the film's characters seem to be constantly looking for them.  P.T. Anderson once again has created a film that asks big questions, consistently catches viewers off guard, and stands in a category that's all its own.

4.5 out of 5

Seven Psychopaths - Review

"Ghandi was wrong!"

Seven Psychopaths is a twisted, often hilarious subversion of the crime comedy genre.  The film hinges around the pivotal performances of Walken and Rockwell who consistently steal the show (and share it when they appear on screen together).  Walken's typically off-beat, cool humor gels nicely with Rockwell's over-the-top, crazy performance.  The two actors are immensely entertaining in their own right and work well as both a comedy team and crime buddy duo.  That's not to discount Colin Farrell, who does a fine job as the tenuous glimpse of sanity in a film centered around loony characters.  Director Martin McDonagh (who also created the great In Bruges in 2008) provides the stylistic flair needed to underline the film's unique tone.  Psychopaths contains sly commentary on the cinematic medium, plays with viewers' expectations, and at the same establishes itself as a film with its own personality.  I particularly liked Walken's backstory and found the Asian psychopath plot line to be effective.  All in all, Psychopaths does a lot more right than it does wrong.  It certainly represents a gleeful, shamelessly insane piece of fun filmmaking for those looking for their daily dose of crazy.

4.5 out of 5

Looper - the quick & dirty review

I never actually took the time to write up a "real review", but here's the bottom line(s):

Looper was great - go see it!  It works as a neo noir, science-fiction film, and classic action movie (complete with Bruce Willis butt-kicking) all wrapped up into one.  Really well done, clever storytelling with plenty of memorable sequences.

Also, is Joseph-Gordon Levitt becoming the next Leonardo DiCaprio?  He's been attached to a number of lucrative films recently, and there are some interesting parallels to their careers...