Who's in it?
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams

What's the plot?
In drama ‘The Master’, Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a WW2 veteran who returns to the U.S. with a bold idea for a new religion. Putting his plan into action, he enlists a charismatic drifter (Joaquin Phoenix) as his right hand man and the cult soon begins to grow. But with success also come questions about the group’s true intentions and real ethos that could destroy it.

‘The Master’ is written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood).

BBFC Consumer Advice
Contains strong language, once very strong, strong sex and sex references.
For more information on film classification, please click here

Beautifully acted without a doubt, but, slow, unmelodramatic. It is difficult to work out what the group's intentions are as the group meander across the United States to promote their cause, which seems to be retrogressive hypnotherapy. The most exciting thing is to see a genuine old Norton motorbike being ridden across some flatland. Phoenix could be nominated for an award for his role. Hoffman brilliant. Luckily I had 2 matchsticks with me to see the film out.

I almost didn't go to see this film when I read some of the reviews on this site, I can only conclude they were written by Sun readers and drivers of white vans!
This is a truly amazing film, intelligent films like this don't come along very often, if you like Rom-Coms, car chases and explosions this isn't the film for you, it's not the kind of film where you leave your brain at the door! A really well made intelligent film, beautifully acted, both Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman put in wonderful performances. An exquisite film that will stay with you long after you leave the Cinema. It has the edge of 'There will be Blood' but without the blood and gore, I will certainly buy this film on DVD when it's released.

Well acted, beautifully filmed BUT where's the story? Neither I nor my partner are action film junkies and both have wide tastes. But The Master's narrative is so paper-thin (and slooow) that after an hour we just wanted to leave and do something more interesting like watch paint dry. And Hoffman is her favourite actor! True, it did start to pick up a little in the last third, but not enough to redeem itself. The only reason I have given it one star is that I can't give it none.