Set in America in the years following World War II, a charismatic intellectual by the name of Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who becomes known as "The Master," launches a faith-based organization in order to give meaning to his life. One night, veteran Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), still struggling with the stress from fighting in the war, jumps aboard Dodd's docked ship and stows away as it sets sail.
At first, the two men seem to be complete opposites but it isn't long before an unexpected friendship is born, with Lancaster even appointing the soldier as his right-hand man. But as the faith's loyal following begins growing, Freddie finds himself questioning the belief system—and the mentor—he once embraced.
Dustin Hoffman has done it again.
We already knew Seymour Philip Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix could act. Movie doesn't make much sense. Sometimes one could not understand what Phoenix was saying because he mumbled. Phoenix looks too old for the part, even allowing for the dissipation his character's being a perpetual drunkard would have caused. Things don't hang together, aren't explained. Phoenix either has severe scoliosis or his character does, but this is never alluded to, and though he llooks as if always in pain, and frequently holds his back just to stand upright--it made my back sore just to watch him--even so his character is always brawling and doing well at it. The scoliosis is never alluded to. Why the othe