Japanese Filmmakers Praise ‘The Master'

"The Master" may now be available on Blu-ray/DVD in the States but still has yet to open in all territories around the world. In Japan it opens on March 22 and the Japanese distributor Phantom Film reached out to us to share their excitement for the film as well as some reactions they've gathered from various filmmakers and actors.

"This film is the soul. Therein lies no gimmicky tricks or concern for cinematic convention, but only genuine endeavor, genuine performance, genuine acting. At this level, what care we for art?  This is a film. Those who live in oblivion to the soul live in oblivion to films of the soul." - Shion Sono (Director: “Himizu” “Love Exposure”)

"Dear Paul Thomas Anderson, You are younger than me but I admire you like my father." - Tetsuya Nakashima (Director: “Confessions” “Memories of Natsuko”)

"Like myself, anytime you have a cinematic genius like PTA just filming the heck out of his actors, especially Joaquin and Phillip, how can it not be absolutely amazing?!" - Tatsushi Omori (Director: Tada’s Do-It-All House)

"A work brimming with anomalous beauty that should leave a mark on film history. My heart was captivated from the opening scene at the sea. That the Academy would remove it from consideration for Best Film and Best Director awards is due to nothing more than jealousy and a boring “capitulation” to the mundane. Paul Thomas Anderson, no matter what anybody says, you are the winner. And I wish to send my most respectful congratulations to you and to your wonderful companions of Joaquin Phoenix, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams." - Yoichi Sai (Director: ”Blood and Bones” “Soo”)

"I vow, too, to film my next movie in 65 millimeters." - Toshiaki Toyoda (Director: “Blue Spring” “9 Souls”)

"This movie features a landscape unlike any that has been seen before, something akin to Orson Welles filming a Steinbeck story. I find myself floored by the genuineness that Paul Thomas Anderson pours into his films. When the credits started rolling, I felt like I had just been taken and brought back from a faraway place by way of an unknown path, where I was in constant danger of getting lost. I’d be very interested to find out just what it was that got him to the place where he is. Because in every way imaginable, it is perfect." - Isao Yukisada (Director: “Closed Diary” “Parade”)

"Pulled in by every single movement of the heart of these actors, 138 minutes just flew by. I reveled in the profundity and interest of the actors’ performances. The man who elicited this, director Paul Thomas Anderson, has come up with an extremely stimulating and powerful film as usual." - Koji Yakusho (Actor: “Babel” “Memoirs of a Geisha”)

The distributor also said they just had a great phone interview with PTA so look out for that in the next couple of weeks and in the meantime, check out the very dramatic Japanese trailer for the film below.



"The Master" is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.    
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