The first trailer has arrived for The Master starring former-faux rapper Joaquin Phoenix. This is not only the actor’s first film since his four year break, but it is also Paul Thomas Anderson’s directorial follow-up to There Will Be Blood. Both of these things are leading those who cover the industry to push a lot of heat behind the effort which also benefits from another stellar performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Interestingly enough, the movie is somewhat controversial to a degree, but not the kind to enrage the mainstream public. The Master at its core is a nod to Scientology and its 1950′s foundations. Hoffman is set to play the L. Ron Hubbard-type leader of the organization with Amy Adams as his wife while Phoenix will fill the role of right-hand man.
Judging from the following trailer, this movie is going to be much more than that comparison though as the actors assembled will undoubtedly bring a lot of character depth to take The Master to a whole different level. The source material might be tough to bite on, but the quality looks to be there from the following suggesting a round of Academy Award nominations for everyone involved.
The Master has a limited release starting October 12.