‘The Master' Blu-ray Details Revealed!

As you know "The Master" is due out on Blu/DVD on February 26 and will include a 20 minute reel of deleted scenes but now we have some firm details on what other extras will be on this release. Anchor Bay and The Weinstein Co. will distribute the disc which will feature the beautiful cover art you see above and looks to have some really cool special features included which you can see below (via Blu-ray.com/ via Michael DeNight).

• "Back Beyond" Outtakes - Additional Scenes Music by Jonny Greenwood (20 min)
• "Unguided Message" - 8 Minute Short
• Behind the Scenes Featurette
• Trailers
• Teasers
• "Let There Be Light" (1946) - John Huston's landmark documentary about WWII veterans (58 Minutes)
• Digital Copy

Pre-order "The Master" on Blu-ray or DVD now!

Which features are you the most excited for? (Besides the film, obviously.) Any ideas on what the "Unguided Message" short might be?

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Ben Affleck Shouts Out PTA At The Golden Globes

Well, that was nice. Last night NBC aired the "best party of the year" (the Golden Globes) where Amy, Joaquin and Philip were all nominated for their performances in "The Master." While the trio unfortunately went home empty handed, Best Director winner Ben Affleck made sure that PTA was there in spirit. During his acceptance speech he humbly said how gratified he was just to be in the same company as the nominated directors (Quentin Tarantino, Ang Lee, Steven Spielberg and Kathryn Bigelow) as well as the great directors who weren't nominated...  

"I don't care what the award is, when they put your name next to the names that she just read off, it's an extraordinary thing in your life. These nominees are exceptional talents. I truly to God never thought I would be in the same breath as them. I want to thank them, and I want to thank the many talented people that weren't nominated. Paul Thomas Anderson who's like, I think, Orson Welles. There are so many others."

Watch it here. You may recall that PTA even worked with Affleck very briefly back in 2000. Around that time PTA was hanging around SNL in preparation for "Punch-Drunk Love" and directed a short called FANatic (which was a parody of the MTV series) the week that Affleck was hosting. (His girlfriend at the time, Fiona Apple, was that week's musical guest.)

In other news, critic Glenn Kenny recently pointed us towards this article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer about late night horror host Ghoulardi (PTA's father Ernie Anderson) commemorating the 50th anniversary of his first broadcast. There's also a sidebar featuring some nice quotes from Paul. He talks about watching movies with his dad and that he's thought about setting a film in that era of the early days of local television.

"From time to time I've thought about making a film about that era of local TV and the kind of Wild West lawlessness and the things that could happen. When my dad was doing it, it wasn't national, it was local. And it felt like lunch time was drinking time and you could come back to work totally hammered." 

That sounds like something I'd definitely like to see. How about you?

Did you read Our Guide To The Deleted Scenes Of 'The Master'?

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Mark Duplass ♥'s ‘The Master,' Shouts Out Annapurna Pictures

Esquire had a chat with actor/filmmaker Mark Duplass (from FX's "The League" and the very underrated "Safety Not Guaranteed") who spoke about his favorite film of 2012, "The Master." Duplass had some very kind words for the film and financiers Annapurna Pictures (who also produced "Zero Dark Thirty" where the actor appears briefly).

"I'm a big fan of Joaquin Phoenix, and I feel like he unfortunately took a little bit of a beating after I'm Still Here. I love that movie. And I think maybe he went a little crazy, too. I've been waiting for his return, and I just loved his physicality, the gnarled shoulders. He has that really brute sensitivity to him that I just really appreciated."

"I went in headlong for The Master this year. As a filmmaker, I'm getting more and more picky about what I like, which is probably why I watch more documentaries than anything else. But there's something about movies like The Master. I knew that movie wasn't going to 100-percent add up. I expected this really inspired, almost tone poem of a movie with fantastic performances, and that's exactly what I got out of it. The plotting was subordinated to the tone and the performances, which in general, I think, makes for a bad movie, but for some reason, in this case, I was like, Oh, this really works. It's a true mood piece, and I just love it.

"It's the antithesis of how I make movies, which is great. All I'm doing is trying to get an ugly-looking close-up. As long as that person is emoting and giving me something funny and sad at the same time, I'm happy. Literally paying zero attention to the picturesque beauty of the scene.

"I am obsessed with Megan Ellison. She runs this company, Annapurna Pictures, and what she is doing for movies right now... She's making true upscale adult dramas, which nobody's doing anymore: Killing Them Softly and Silver Linings Playbook and Zero Dark Thirty and The Master. I'm very, very thankful for Annapurna Pictures this year. The Master is going to lose money, and she doesn't give a shit. She's going to make more movies like that. And that sort of punk-rock spirit with the power that she has is exactly what we need in cinema right now."

Amen. We will remind you now that Annapurna will also be financing "Inherent Vice" as well as 2013 films by Spike Jonze, Bennett Miller, David O. Russell and Harmony Korine and are pretty much the bees knees all around. Duplass & Annapurna are both on Twitter, so follow them if you're so inclined.

We also posted two new interviews with PTA from the last few weeks that slipped through the cracks including brief chats with Deadline and Le Point (the film opened in France this week). Speaking of France, Richard Brody in the New Yorker has posted a fabulous essay about the film and how its more ambiguous aspects will probably play better for French cineastes than they did for American general audiences. Definitely worth a read.

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‘The Master' Nominated For 3 Oscars Incl. Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress

Academy Award nominations were announced this morning and "The Master" received a total of 3 nominations for its entire central cast.

Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix)
Best Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman)
Best Supporting Actress (Amy Adams)

Update:  Amy Adams spoke to Variety about the film's nominations and had some very wise words in regards to the film's legacy.

 When it comes to her co-stars in "The Master," four-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams is a woman of faith.

"The performances are so unique and transcendent really," Adams said of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix. "I'd work with Philip on every film if I could."

The actress, who juggled Oscar reaction interviews and a crying baby Thursday morning ("Sorry! Two-year olds!"), thinks Paul Thomas Anderson's religion-themed drama will be "just as brilliant 10 years down the road," best picture nomination or not. She hopes the Oscar attention will encourage more people to see the pic, or give it a second chance in some cases.

"The way that Paul crafts characters, everything speaks to his skill as a filmmaker," Adams said. "I hope people revisit it."

Huge congratulations to everyone who worked on the film. The film joins "Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia" which were also nominated for 3 Oscars. For those who are disappointed that PTA and more of the crew weren't recognized for their effort, "Looper" director Rian Johnson said it best back in September...

I highly doubt an Oscar has a chance of earning The Master this year. But who knows, maybe if the academy made a big publicity push.

And as I said on Twitter the other day, awards are great & certainly anything that brings attention to the film is a good thing. But they won't affect which films are remembered. Basically it's nice when they get it right. When they don't, it doesn't really change anything. The films that stand the test of time, will.

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From Script To Screen: A Guide To The Deleted/Missing Scenes In ‘The Master'

I've been meaning to dig into this for quite some time and thanks to our friends at The Playlist, found a larger venue for this project which we're excited to finally unveil for you guys. From Script To Screen: Your Guide To All The Deleted/Missing Scenes In ‘The Master' is exactly what it sounds like, an overview of many differences between the screenplay and final film. In an effort to keep it at a manageable length, this is really just a primer for the many differences between the two versions and a perfect companion piece to Our Guide To The Deleted Scenes From 'The Master' Teasers & Trailers. The Weinstein Company recently posted the WGA nominated screenplay on their website so this seemed like as good a time as any to dive in. I had refrained from reading the screenplay until after seeing the film but when I finally did, found it fascinating to see how "The Master" evolved from the version on the page.  

Joaquin Phoenix described PTA's process back in September, "Paul will write many, many scenes that won’t make it into the movie," saying that PTA doesn't worry about continuity, is open to improvisation and often scenes that might take up one-eighth of a page can shoot for a day and a half. Though we already noted how much of the footage from the teasers & trailers didn’t make it into the final film -- an intentional move by PTA and editor Leslie Jones to give of the flavor of the film without actually spoiling it -- the screenplay also takes significant detours from the final film with entire deleted sequences, subplots and dialogue that radically alter the DNA of the piece. While some moments in the screenplay now seem extraneous, by excising certain scenes PTA has changed the nature of various relationships between the characters and obscured certain aspects of the story that were made clearer in the text as you’ll see below. It should go without saying but this contains major spoilers and should only be read after you've seen the film.

Read it here.

Have you read the screenplay? Which deleted scene would you most like to have seen included in the film? Sound off in the comments.

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Robert Downey Jr. Still Attached To ‘Inherent Vice'; Charlize Theron Possibly Joining As Film Gears Up

Wow, well this certainly comes as a surprise. According to Showbiz 411 (via The Playlist) things are already gearing up for PTA's adaptation of "Inherent Vice." The article states the obvious (that 'Vice' will be PTA's next film & Annapurna are once again financing), the unconfirmed (that Robert Downey Jr. who had originally been pegged to star is still attached) and drops one new casting rumor: that Charlize Theron may be joining the film as well. See below:

There were a lot of internet rumors and some clues over the last week. Now I can confirm that Paul Thomas Anderson’s next film will be an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s novel “Inherent Vice.” And also, it does like Robert Downey, Jr. and perhaps Charlize Theron will be the stars, with more names coming. After disappointing box office on “The Master,” PTA is said to be interested in having a moneymaker.

I can tell you that the brilliant and relatively young Megan Ellison is going to produce via her Annapurna Productions. Ellison is also busy prepping David O. Russell’s next one, “American Bullshit,” with Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale and, obviously, a new title.

Pynchon is notoriously reclusive. The legendary author of “Gravity’s Rainbow” and “V” has lived for years right here in New York, married to literary agent Melanie Jackson. He’s our J.D. Salinger, meaning no one ever sees him. (Other writers like this include Thomas Harris, the creator of Hannibal Lecter, who lives in Sag Harbor, and Harper Lee, who used to be in New York and is now down south in what I’m told may be assisted living.)

Pynchon did narrate a video for “Inherent Vice” which can be –and has been–found on You Tube. I’m told he thinks very highly of Anderson, who’s met with him a lot. “Pynchon only wants Paul to make this movie,” says a source. And we do too. More: “It’s closer to Boogie Nights than any of his other films.”

Though the article is a bit sketchy as far as unconfirmed sources go, back in December PTA did name Charlize as one of the actors/actresses he'd most like to work with it wouldn't surprise us if it ends up being true. "Charlize Theron I think is dynamite.  She's so great," he told Sirius naming her alongside Jim Carrey, Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michael Shannon. So maybe don't be surprised if any of their names pop up for roles either... We must say that it's pretty thrilling that "The Master" hasn't even opened in certain territories yet (or landed on Blu-ray) and we're already talking about the next project. Any readers who have read the novel want to guess on who Charlize might be playing? Sound off in the comments but no spoilers please.

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Interview: Le Point (French Translation)

Paul Thomas Anderson: "Forget Scientology, The Master is a love story"
Source: Le Point

Note: This interview was translated from French to English with the help of reader Nassim Kezoui.

The Master with his first film since There Will Be Blood sumptuous (2007), Paul Thomas Anderson returns in great shape. Fed on early readings of Scientology, he invented Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a suave mentor which closely resembles L. Ron Hubbard in certain details of his teaching as his life. Facing him, Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), an ex-GI strong disrupted by the trauma of the Second World War. Them enters into a confrontation which is also a fascinating duel of actors at their peak.

‘The Master' Wins Big With The National Society Of Film Critics

Congrats to "The Master" crew for winning big this afternoon with the National Society Of Film Critics. Amy Adams and Mihai Malaimare Jr. took home top honors for Best Supporting Actress and Best Cinematography respectively while the film was a runner-up for Best Picture, Best Director (PTA), Best Screenplay (PTA), Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) and second runner-up for Best Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman). (via Awards Daily)

BEST PICTURE
*1. Amour (Sony Classics) – 28
2. The Master – 25
3. Zero Dark Thirty – 18

BEST DIRECTOR
*1. Michael Haneke (Amour) – 27
2. Kathryn Bigelow – 24
2. Paul Thomas Anderson – 24

BEST ACTOR
*1. Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln – 59 (Dreamworks/Touchstone)
2. Denis Lavant – 49
2. Joaquin Phoenix – 49

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
*1.  Matthew McConaughey – Magic Mike (Warner Bros.), Bernie (Millennium Entertainment) – 27
2. Tommy Lee Jones – 22
3. Philip Seymour Hoffman – 19

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
*1. Amy Adams – The Master (The Weinstein Co.) – 34
2. Sally Field – 23
3. Anne Hathaway – 13

BEST SCREENPLAY
*1. Lincoln (Dreamworks/Touchstone) – Tony Kushner – 59
2. The Master (P.T. Anderson)– 27
3.  Silver Linings Playbook (David O. Russell) – 19

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
*1. Master (Mihai Malaimare, Jr. ) – 60
2. Skyfall (Roger Deakins) – 30

UPDATE 1/7: According to Criticwire Paul has also been awarded the Best Director prize by the Online Film Critics Society with Philip Seymour Hoffman taking Best Supporting Actor. Nice!

Check out all the film's nominations & wins here.

Oscar nominations are announced this Thursday. Which nominations do you think the film will pick up? Sound off in the comments.

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WGA Nominates ‘The Master' For Best Original Screenplay

Congrats to Paul who was nominated this morning by the Writers Guild of America for Best Original Screenplay for "The Master." Check out the full list of nominations below (via The Playlist):

Best Original Screenplay
John Gatins - "Flight"
Rian Johnson - "Looper"
Paul Thomas Anderson - "The Master"
Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola - "Moonrise Kingdom"
Mark Boal - "Zero Dark Thirty"

Best Adapted Screenplay
Chris Terrio - "Argo"
David Magee - "Life of Pi"
Tony Kushner - "Lincoln"
Stephen Chbosky - "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
David O. Russell - "Silver Linings Playbook"

Best Documentary Screenplay
Sarah Burns, David McMahon, Ken Burns - "The Central Park Five"
Kirby Dick - "The Invisible War"
Alex Gibney - "Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In the House of God"
Malik Bendejelloul - "Searching For Sugar Man"
Brian Knappenberger - "We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivisits"
Amy Berg & Billy McMillin - "West of Memphis"

Check out all the film's nominations & wins here.

Speaking of The Playlist, I've been working on a lengthy piece on the film for that outlet which should be very interesting to our readers. Stay tuned.

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