The Master (2012)

 This was a wretchedly bizarre film. And it shockingly wasn't based on a book, which only adds to the weirdness of the whole film.

The film is fairly straight-forward if completely odd until the end. Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) is a veteran from World War II and he has wretched PTSD, not that that is understood. He's also a sex addict and alcoholic and loses two jobs before stumbling (nearly literally) onto a boat which is the current home to a cult (and that's what they are). 

The other main character is Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman) claims to be a doctor and enjoys getting people to dreg up the past to reveal the hidden truths about them. Still, there is a band to entertain them, only all the women are nude, just the women, and Lancaster seems to like unique booze while his wife, Peggy (Amy Adams) loathes drunks. It is just a bizarre cult, but the Bible is never mentioned although they believe that the soul never dies. However, even a simple word change (from recall to imagine) can set his most devote believers off. 

Then, Lancaster's son-in-law, Clark (Rami Malek) gets the idea that Freddie's been planted as some sort of spy so they torture him but he seems to 'pass' all these ridiculous tests. However, he escapes in the desert on a motorcycle but is found only finally, Lancaster sees Freddie for the flawed human that he is and doesn't really welcome him back. I felt that Freddie got into an accident and died as he was driving quickly and had no real reason to leave. He was an aimless human (unfortunately). However, the cult has rubbed off on him (no pun intended) as he tries to the techniques on others that he meets along his journey, wherever that may take him. 

Despite the brilliant performances from the entire cast, the plot was just completely insane and quite choppy toward the end, which is a shame as the material was there and the performances lifted up the average script. Also, if this had been based on a book, either Freddie or Lancaster would have died, the world just can't handle both of them. Grade: B-

Side Notes:

-The superb supporting cast includes Jesse Plemons, Jillian Bell, Laura Dern and Patty McCormick.

-It is unclear how Freddie gets all the jobs he does.

-Amy Adams is pregnant throughout until her final scene but the pregnancy isn't a plot point and is largely ignored by most of the characters.

-Lancaster was married several times before Peggy.

-Whenever someone speaks ill of Lancaster, Freddie beats them up. He is nothing if not loyal.

-Freddie really is an alcoholic and makes moonshine at one of his previous jobs.

-It is never mentioned how Lancaster settles his debt, nor why he moves his whole organization to England.

-The most ridiculous part of the film is a movie theater worker delivering a phone call to Freddie while Freddie is just watching a movie. I can't believe that that would actually happen.