"The Master" director Paul Thomas Anderson's first movie in five years is garnering rave reviews after some unsuspecting movie-goers were treated to a secret screening of the full film, In Contention's Kristopher Tapley first reported.
The audience at Aero Theatre in Santa Monica last week just came to see an evening showing of the Kubrick classic "The Shining," when theatre staff invited them to stay after for a "secret screening." The screening turned out to be the world premiere of "The Master" and was attended by Anderson and his wife, comedian Maya Rudolph.
"The Master" stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as a disillusioned scientist and writer who decides to create his own religion and help an unstable drifter played by Joaquin Phoenix. Amy Adams also stars.
The vast majority of those lucky enough to be at the secret screening have heaped loads of praise on the actors, the director and the whole movie itself giving rise to predictions of a large Oscar presence come awards season. One audience member was completely overcome after the screening and took to Twitter to note that it was "possibly the best film watching experience I’ve ever had."
The movie, which is set to be released September 14th, has been highly anticipated not only because it is Anderson's first movie since 2007's "There Will Be Blood," but because it is said to be based on L. Ron Hubbard's development of Scientology.
As can be seen from the trailer below, the constant criticisms that Hoffman's character is "making all this up as he goes along" and creating a cult are pretty reminiscent of common Scientology attacks. The Church of Scientology has already faced loads of bad press this summer, so it will definitely be interesting to see how it responds to this slam.
We've included some tweeted reviews courtesy of Cigarettes & Red Vines, as well as the recently released and very cool trailer.
@michaelwhittle "Possibly the best film watching experience I've ever had. PTA's best. Not a doubt in my mind. #THEMASTER70MM"
@TotallySketch "Just saw 'The Master'. A movie has never made me feel quite like this one did. I can't describe it or even rate it. I am speechless."
@aaldere1 "The Master was amazing. Oscars all over this one."
@LoganDoe "@prfessorbigsock Hoffman is one of the finest actors alive. The Master is (more) proof. #themaster"
@pillowfightin "@cigsandredvines Saw The Master in 70mm at the Aero Santa Monica. Surprise screening after The Shining. Its like nothing yvever seen before."
