PTA & Robert Downey Sr. Talk ‘Putney Swope' In Final Criterion Video

In the final part in Criterion's 4 part series of interviews between PTA and filmmaker/iconoclast Robert Downey Sr., the pair discuss "Putney Swope" (1969), probably the latter filmmaker's best known work. As we've already mentioned, Paul said 'Putney' showed him “you could be really punk rock in a movie. You could do anything. It didn’t have to make sense. As long as it was funny or funny to the guy who was making it, it would come across as exciting.” If you haven't seen it already, you can check out the film now as part of Criterion's 5 film set of Downey's work entitled Up All Night with Robert Downey Sr.



Though there wasn't much meat on the bone -- so to speak -- in the way of enlightening info, it was nice to watch these two filmmakers casually chatting about film. And we'd like to thank Criterion again for putting these together.

Watch Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

Stay tuned to Twitter and Facebook for the latest news and updates. 

‘The Master' Could Be Headed To Venice; John Huston Influence

Back when the rumors started to heat up that "The Master" might be making its Cannes debut, we did a little piece running down the odds on which festivals we thought had the best shot of scoring the film. While we always thought Cannes was a long shot (just seemed a bit too early), we gave better odds to the Venice Film Festival which runs from August 29-Sept 8 this year. Though PTA has never premiered one of his films here, like Cannes the fest always pulls through with an impressive lineup. But unlike the recently concluded fest, the timetable puts it about 5 weeks out from the Oct 12 opening of the film, just enough time to start building some real buzz.

According to an article in the Hollywood Reporter, festival artistic director Alberto Barbera promises a “more sober, less glitzy” version of the festival with new films by Brian de Palma, Terrence Malick and Paul Thomas Anderson as "likely candidates." So while the festival is hot to pursue "The Master" we probably wont know for the next month or two if it's actually playing there as it's still a bit early for a confirmed lineup. Also worth noting is that if the film does premiere in Venice, there's a good chance for a screening either at TIFF or the NYFF which fall immediately afterwards. 

In other news, a reader recently passed along this link to a blogpost that points out some similarities between "The Master" teaser and a John Huston documentary called "Let There Be Light" which chronicled soldiers suffering from psychological wounds suffered in WWII. Similarities are such that we have no doubt that PTA probably came across this as part of his research and would be worth watching a few minutes of over at the Film Preservation site to see for yourself. (Good find, D.H. Sayer!)

PTA In Conversation With Robert Downey Sr. Part 3

Earlier this week, Criterion premiered the second installment in a 4 part series capturing a candid discussion between PTA and filmmaker/iconoclast Robert Downey Sr. (Part One premiered last week.) Today they've dropped the latest episode which you can watch below where the pair discuss the film "Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight" a.k.a. "Moment To Moment" (1975), which is featured in the Eclipse box set of Downey Sr.'s work.



Watch Part 1 and Part 2.

Even if you're not familiar with the work of Downey Sr., these videos should be of interest as they're PTA's first on-camera interviews in over 4 years, if we're not mistaken (not counting his "Hugo" Q&A last Fall which was recorded by an audience member). Since Paul has basically been MIA since the 'TWBB' press tour, it's good to see him back in the world again.

Deadline had posited that another reel of "The Master" footage might be shown at Cannes tonight as part of a secret presentation but now they're saying that looks unlikely.

Check out the photos from the teaser in our Facebook gallery and stay tuned to Twitter for the latest news and updates.

PTA In Conversation With Robert Downey Sr. Part 2; Tom Cruise Has Seen ‘The Master'

Last Tuesday, Criterion premiered the first installment in a 4 part series capturing a candid discussion between PTA and filmmaker/iconoclast Robert Downey Sr. Today they've dropped the latest episode which you can watch above where the pair discuss the film "No More Excuses" (1968) which is featured in the Eclipse box set of Downey Sr.'s work.

In other news, according to The Wrap, Paul screened "The Master" for none other than Frank "T.J." Mackey himself, Tom Cruise. According to two anonymous sources (aren't they always?) Cruise “had issues” with some parts of the movie but the two have remained friends since "Magnolia." The article also indicates that The Weinstein Co. wants to show the film to John Travolta as well to head off any potential Scientology-themed controversy down the line. Possibly all nonsense, but time will tell. (via @ntwalker)

If you haven't read the scene-by-scene rundown of the 4 minutes of Cannes footage, you should probably do so. And then check out the photos from the teaser in our Facebook gallery and stay tuned to Twitter for the latest news and updates.

Scene By Scene Breakdown Of ‘The Master' Cannes Footage

To say that yesterday was a big day for the site would be something of an understatement. It was the day that we and many fans have been waiting on for years, as we got our first look at the 6th film from Paul Thomas Anderson. First, we got another little note from Paul with the first teaser trailer for "The Master" (which was cut by PTA himself) and a few short hours later the reactions started pouring out of Cannes to the 4 minutes of footage at the Weinstein Co. presentation. Today, thanks to Hitfix we have a scene-by-scene rundown of the entire presentation (as if it were possible to be any more excited).

Four Minutes Of ‘The Master' Footage Screens At Cannes; First Reactions Here

While we're incredibly grateful that "The Master" crew decided to grace the rest of us with the first teaser trailer for the film this morning, critics in Cannes were even luckier. Invited journalists were invited to Weinstein Company party showing off footage from "Django Unchained," "The Silver Linings Playbook" and most importantly, "The Master." While some wondered this morning if they would be shown the same footage in the teaser, that was not the case. They were treated to about 4 minutes of scenes from the film total and got apparently a much broader look at the film with scenes featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and more.

The Wrap says: 

“The Master” seems destined for controversy. Paul Thomas Anderson has written a tale that is loosely inspired on the life of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. The short piece shown was enough to suggest that Anderson (“Magnolia,” “There Will Be Blood”) has again taken on an epic subject and will face it down fearlessly.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, in moustache and suspenders, plays The Master, the Hubbard-like leader of what is referred to as The Cause. Amy Adams, in fierce dramatic scenes, plays his headstrong wife.

Joaquin Phoenix is the center of the story as a postwar drifter, searching for a path and racked by anguish or mental illness or both.

In one scene, The Master demands: “Is your life a struggle? Is your behavior erratic?”
It looks ambitious and exciting, though no frogs appear to fall. Remains to be seen what the never-shy Church of Scientology will have to say about this portrayal, however fictionalized

‘The Master' Teaser Trailer Has Arrived

Finally, the teaser for "The Master" (yes, that is what the title is) has arrived and yes, we got fucking chills watching it. The Weinstein Company confirms that it was (much like the "There Will Be Blood" teaser back in 2007) cut by Paul. Sound off in the comments below.

Written and directed by Academy Award nominee Paul Thomas Anderson (the acclaimed director of, There Will Be Blood, Magnolia and Boogie Nights), this story stars Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote) and Academy Award-nominee Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line). Set in America in the years following World War II, a charismatic intellectual (Hoffman) launches a faith-based organization and taps a young drifter (Phoenix) as his right-hand man. But as the faith begins to gain a fervent following, the onetime vagabond finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor. A truly one-of-a-kind drama, which promises magnetic virtuoso performances, the film marks the fifth collaboration between Anderson and Hoffman, following Hard Eight, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch Drunk Love.

Paul was even kind enough to drop us a line first thing this morning with a link to the trailer/site. Take it away, sir...

cj -

Ummmmmm. GULP. (double heart attack..) slip, slurp.

here you go,,,,,

themasterfilm.com

paul.

Check out the photos from the teaser in our Facebook gallery and stay tuned to Twitter for the latest news and updates.

First Footage From ‘The Master' To Unspool For Critics At Cannes Tomorrow

Well, we're kicking ourselves after all for not making plans for Cannes this year as it looks like The Weinstein Co. is planning to unveil the first footage from "The Master" to critics tomorrow night at the fest. Thanks to a tweet by First Showing, we now know that footage from the film will screen alongside selected bits from Quentin Tarantino's (still filming) "Django Unchained" and David O. Russell's "The Silver Linings Playbook," both also highly anticipated projects. 

THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

Invites you to celebrate
The 65th Cannes Film Festival

Monday, May 21st 2012
Cocktails from 7-9 pm

To introduce FIRST LOOK footage of
The highly anticipated films

THE MASTER
THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
DJANGO UNCHAINED

This is obviously a big deal as it's the first time any frame of film will be seen publicly, well, outside of a few frames. So far Paul has only been showing the film (or bits of it anyway) to friends/family in his inner circle who have said it's both "great" and "incredible". While First Showing isn't sure yet if they'll be allowed to discuss their reactions to the presentation, we'd have to imagine that showing press (as opposed to buyers) a bunch of footage would probably be for the express purpose of not keeping a lid on it. It should go without saying that if any Cigs & Vines readers are able to attend and pass us along a detailed report of what you see, that would be just fantastic.

Stay tuned to Twitter and Facebook for the latest news and updates.

PTA Joins Robert Downey Sr. In Conversation For The Criterion Collection

Sometimes when it rains, it pours. After quite an eventful morning that saw Mr. FortyFPS and myself awake at 3:20am to decipher the cryptic email from Paul, we've been passed another little jewel. According to a post on The Criterion Collection Facebook page, PTA shot a series of videos with Robert Downey Sr. which they'll be unveiling in the coming weeks.

For those of you who don't know Robert Downey Sr. is (yes, Jr.'s father and also) the writer and director of a some truly bizarre and wonderful films including the satire "Putney Swope" which has long been a favorite of PTA's. (Fun fact: Buck Swope from "Boogie Nights" was named as a nod to the film!) Paul said the film showed him “you could be really punk rock in a movie. You could do anything. It didn’t have to make sense. As long as it was funny or funny to the guy who was making it, it would come across as exciting.” This video series is presumably to help promote Criterion's upcoming 5 film set of Downey's work entitled Up All Night with Robert Downey Sr. We'll keep our eyes peeled for those videos and post them here as they arrive as I'm sure our eagle-eyed readers will be the first to let us know. (Thanks @HybridVigorFilm!)  

Update 5/17: You can now watch the first video below:

 

Update 5/16:  During a completely unrelated Downey Sr. interview with the Projection Booth podcast (about the 38 minute mark), the subject of PTA came up when he was asked about filmmakers who have been influenced by his work. "Well, Paul I've known a long time," Downey Sr. said. "I knew him before he made a feature. In fact, he's going to do the interview with me for the [Criterion] box set. Yeah, he's a good guy. I've seen 90 minutes of his new movie ["The Master"] too, it's great." Looks like PTA is continuing to show the unfinished film to his close circle of friends as you'll remember Emily Watson had seen 30 minutes back in December. This also means the film is probably running quite a bit over 90 minutes as it seems unlikely everything but the final few minutes would've been screened. (For reference TWBB: 158 min, PDL: 95 min, MAG: 189 min, BOOGIE: 156 min, H8: 102 min.)

Continuing his kind words about Paul he said, "He's an interesting character. He's actually the West Coast Marty Scorsese in a way, he knows every film that was ever shot. He's one of those guys...In fact he asked me if he could use the firecracker scene [from "Putney Swope"] in "Boogie Nights," I said 'Of course.' I like that film." Also of interest is that a few years ago Paul had apparently been talking to Downey about potentially writing something based on events from his life. "He was interested in my teenage years when I was in and out of prison and the army. And I think he thought at one time that that kinda stuff might be interesting. He's heard a lot of stories from me. I remember talking about that. He's talked about it other times but he's got a lot of thoughts on his mind, he's always thinking." You can listen to the entire thing over at The Projection Booth. (via xixax).


Oh and for those of you who are curious we posted this (slightly better looking) blow-up of that 65mm frame to Twitter where you can just make out The Master dancing into the next room while bystanders clap for him. To the side is a piano & a woman playing an upright bass. Much more to come.


Stay tuned to Twitter and Facebook for the latest news and updates.

EXCLUSIVE: 65mm Filmstrip Reveals First Look At Philip Seymour Hoffman As ‘The Master'; Film Still Being Edited

Just when you thought your May 15th was going to come and go without a kick: We here at the Vines can pass along the first official update on The Master direct from Paul Thomas Anderson as well as the first image of the film, kind of...the floor is yours, sir:

CJ -
good evening.  it's been so long
and you've been so patient, thought
i'd fill you in on where we're
at with it now: 

 

These shots include our lovely
Negative Cutter, Simone, imported
all the way from France to cut 65mm
negative.   She does it all with a pair
of scissors from Staples.  

I'll have more to share in the
coming days/weeks/months.  Hope
you're well. Thank you for all the support. 

See you soon.
paul.

Click any of those thumbnails to see the full sized versions.

And, because hitting CTRL + OPTION + APPLE + 8 takes alot of effort, I have close cropped the 65" filmstrip and reversed/color corrected it into an educated guess at the look. The image appears to be a Phil Hoffman as the Master.

So it seems the film is still being worked on, or these were archival images to get you pre-heated for whatever is dropping next, which you will find here first. Follow us on Twitter and we'll warn you ahead of time about things and reward you in various ways.