I’ve been hanging out for a proper trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson‘s The Master since seeing the clips they released as teasers. Well, it’s finally here… and it’s spell-binding and powerful, moody and unsettling, in all the right ways. Cult films are nothing new of course, but the post-World War II setting, the incredible cast and the slightly off-beat feel make this a compelling watch.

Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood) wrote and directed the drama set in America in the 1950’s about ‘the relationship between a charismatic intellectual known as “the Master” whose faith-based organization begins to catch on, and a young drifter who becomes his right-hand man.‘ The film’s cast includes the dream pairing of Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Boat That Rocked, Capote) as religious leader Lancaster Dodd, and Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line, Reservation Road) as the alcoholic ex-Navy drifter.  If that’s not enough to make this a ‘must see’ I don’t know what is.

Enjoy!

I know it’s only the first trailer but this looks up there with the likes of Martha Marcy May Marlene and Sound of My Voice. Phoenix looks back to his self-destructive best and Hoffman’s nuanced performance looks brilliant – both had me glued to my laptop. The trailer gives us just enough but doesn’t overload us. And check out the seriously cool poster below…

So when’s it coming out? Unfortunately, there’s no New Zealand release date yet. But I imagine it’ll arrive November/December this year – so stay tuned.

You like the look of this? Hoffman and Phoenix – the perfect combination?

A 1950s-set drama centered on the relationship between a charismatic intellectual known as “the Master” whose faith-based organization begins to catch on, and a young drifter who becomes his right-hand man.

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Laura Dern, Rami Malek, Jesse Plemons, W. Earl Brown, Jillian Bell, Kevin J. O’Connor, Lena Endre and Ambyr Childers.

No New Zealand release date yet.