The Master - Spoiler-Free Thread

[MacGuffin]

Anderson, Hoffman at Altar on Religion Pic
By: Mike Fleming, Variety

"There Will Be Blood" writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson has found religion, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, for his next film.

Anderson has written an untitled period drama that is set up at Universal. Hoffman, who has played supporting roles in most of Anderson's past films, would this time be the centerpiece.

Hoffman will play "The Master," as in "master of ceremonies," a charismatic intellectual who hatches a faith-based organization that begins to catch on in America in 1952.

The core is the relationship between The Master and Freddie, a twenty-something drifter who becomes the leader's lieutenant. As the faith begins to gain a fervent following, Freddie finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor.

Anderson's treatment of religion was cynical in "There Will Be Blood." Here, the scrutiny isn't specifically directed toward faith-based movements like Scientology or Mormonism that are newcomers compared to established religions. Anderson explores the need to believe in a higher power, the choice of which to embrace, and the point at which a belief system graduates into a religion. . 

Universal, which has become very selective about green lighting adult dramas, won't make a decision on Anderson's $35 million budget pic until he delivers his finished script. His hope is to make the picture next year, sources said.

Anderson's frequent collaborator, JoAnne Sellar, is the producer. 

Hoffman made his breakthrough in the cast of Anderson's "Boogie Nights," and has also appeared in the Anderson-directed "Hard Eight," "Punch-Drunk Love" and "Magnolia."

Neither the studio nor reps for Anderson or Hoffman would comment.

[polkablues]

I for one wish these up-and-coming young filmsters the best of luck with their project.

[matt35mm]

Oh my fuck.

There's a sweet irony about an exploration of religion coming from the man I worship.

[SiliasRuby]

Fucking awesome. Something to seriously look forward to.... A sigh of happiness just breathed through my mouth.

[Stefen]

This is after Metal Gear Solid, right?

[polkablues]

Here, the scrutiny isn't specifically directed toward faith-based movements like Scientology

Uh-huh.   

I look forward to PSH's take on his completely fictitious character, H. Rod Huggard.

Tom Cruise will be quietly judging him like crazy after this movie comes out.

[Gold Trumpet]

The Metal Gear Solid reference made me laugh out loud.

I still have to admit I get giddy whenever I hear real news like this about PTA. The concept is great and if PTA continues on with religious subject matter, he may be setting himself up to be an American counterpart to Robert Bresson. That would be amazing. I'm not religious, but I always knew if I ever became a filmmaker, one of my main goals would be to take the American version of the road that Robert Bresson took in his dedication to Christian themes and subjects. It sounds like this project won't be specifically about Christian ideologies, but it will have to take on a lot of modern notions of religiosity that everyday Christian evangelists today believe in.  

Also, the excellent idea is that PTA can develop something that began in There Will be Blood. Someday he may even be able to have a body of work that makes Magnolia come off as slightly naive in its notion of spirituality. That would be the greatest compliment for PTA - to develop that much.

[Pubrick]

FIUCKLLKFKFK FLFLFL


FKJFKFKFK

FKFKFKFK FICKKFICKKCKC


FKKF


intelligible thoughts to resume in 10,001+

[Kal]

PTA + P all in one day?

[Stefen]

PTA pwned your main goal, GT. Another thing to add to the PTA is a fucking jerk thread.

"Dood, wtf? I wanted to be the American Bresson. It was my main goal!"

"You snooze, you lose."

"lol."

[Pedro]

I am so excited.  As someone with a decisively negative view about religion in general (no offense to the religious), I am excited to see him explore/attack it in a more direct manner.

[Stefen]

Am I the only one not feeling another project with religious subject matter? Everything PTA touches turns to gold, so no worries there, but the best thing about CMBB is that it was a complete departure for him, yet still felt like PTA. Here he seems to be exploring some of the same subject matter (religion) as CMBB.

I like the idea of PSH starting a NEW religion and people following him. I think that could be fun with what PTA could do with it. I hope that's the route he takes. Sounds like it. 

[picolas]

it sounds like the sister movie to twbb, kinda like how maggie is boogie's sister. (pdl and sydney are only childs).

oh and FUFCKCKJCdkjsdksDFSDJFK

[Stefen]

^I like that idea. Sister films.

For some reason, when I think of this and it's setting, I'm getting a Badlands type of vibe. I can't even imagine how beautiful 1952 America will look through Elswit's lens.

[polkablues]

Let's get some speculation going on who's going to play Freddie. I hear the kid from "Even Stevens" is popular nowadays...