The Master (2012)

 Unfortunately the most valuable thing The Master has to offer is clear cut pretentiousness radar. Anyone I hear raving about this movie will immediately expose themselves as the pretentious person they are, with a desire that others perceive them to be smarter than they are. That is not to say The Master doesn’t have  moments of utter brilliance, but that can be said of all Paul Thomas Anderson films and even some of Adam Sandler’s films, with the exception of Punch Drunk Love which is brilliant through and through.

Philip Seymour Hoffman continues to test the limits of his trade (apparently it’s the sky) with his portrayal of Cult Leader, Lancaster Dodd. His captivating charm and charisma had me ready to join and follow him anywhere many times throughout the 138 minutes. The return of Joaquin Phoenix after his meltdown is a welcome and worthy one. The two uncut beating scenes involving Joaquin’s character, Freddie Quell, will stick with me forever as well as the also uncut prison cell scene where an innocent toilet meets his unbridled frustration and rage. Both should get Oscar nominations and don’t be shocked at the conspiracy theories if one or neither does. Same goes for Amy Adams who for the first time played a bitch of a character I didn’t like.

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We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)

Holy hell do we need to talk about We Need To Talk About Kevin. Every so often I fall deeply in love with a movie. I have been completely swept off my feet by this one. Just watched it for a third time and don’t want to send it back. I realize that it will be very difficult for me not to oversell this one. Apparently I already have as “the soon to be wife” and my own brother have both told me as much. Before I go any farther I should say this, stop reading if you have not seen this. I wouldn’t be this thrilled had I known any more than who was in it. To borrow a phrase from an old colleague, “More Mystery, Less History” can go a long way with this one. No trailer either. I made that mistake with the girl, thinking she would never see it, and then immediately demanded that we spend the next 112 mins. doing just that. Be warned that this is at times intense, at times uncomfortable and has been referred to as a psychological horror film and even as a War Film by Tilda Swinton herself. Speaking of Swinton, this is the best I’ve ever seen her and that says a lot. Now don’t go any further unless you’ve seen it or if you like to not enjoy great movies, but only read about them.

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