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May 02, 2018Janice21383 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Slow and boring, or deep and rich? Or victim of Scientologist down votes? I don't judge anyone who holds either of the first two opinions, because there's good reason for either view. This film is a mash of gorgeous and telling scenes, rather than a completely successful whole. Just don't call it inaccurate. The Master (Philip Seymour Hoffman, IMO his best performance) is not literally L. Ron Hubbard, but Scientology and dozens of other real self-help cults formed in ways similar to those depicted in the film. They had similar charismatic leaders, and aided and then controlled and damaged troubled people in similar ways. If you generally stick to films with a straightforward stories and sympathetic characters, this is probably not for you. But if you like character studies and great acting, give it a shot. [The attached video will give you some idea. No, the film is not all swearing and confrontations, but it is emotional.]