After reading some interviews from The Master, its clear that PTA loves his film noir
yeah, he talked about wanting to do it in B&W early on to make it noirish and 'of the period' but decided it wouldn't fit (it wouldn't). He must've just been anxious to try a different film technique and I'm glad he discovered 70mm.
I love film noir! It's been waaay too long since I've checked out a good one. I haven't even seen 'The Big Sleep' and most of the classics. See, this is why I love PTA- With every movie he makes I'm introduced to different types of films:
Sydney- Phillip Baker Hall's body of work ( and he also suggests that Sydney is an over the hill noir character )
Boogie Nights- Classic Porn
Magnolia- Multi-Narrative Films
Punch Drunk Love- Jacques Tati
There Will Be Blood- John Huston
The Master- Cult Films ( the kind that are
about cults )
and I've read enough of Inherent Vice to know that this is his stoner film noir. I have a question- has weed ever been in one of PTA's movies? I don't think it has, in Boogie Nights I'm sure there's some joint passing going on in the party scenes but it's never a focal point ( and it really shouldn't be- weed's not cinematic like coke is. ) Call me out if I'm wrong about this... I'm just excited to see PTA portraying the BEST DRUG IN THE WORLD after he's done all the worst ones to death (Nicotine, Alcohol, Cocaine, Opiates)
So again he switches the style up and if they hate then let 'em hate and watch no money pile up.