The Master (2012)

We lost Philip Seymour Hoffman way too soon. There is a moment during the recording of this episode where we remark that he was in a total of 3 films that we’ve covered when in fact he was also in Cold Mountain (a film we just covered) and Almost Famous (an episode we frequently call back to, and one of our favorite sessions). Even as I write this, I realize that he also had a small jewel role in Nobody’s Fool, a sorely overlooked film that we covered for our holiday faire. Therein lies Hoffman’s brilliance — he was an actor that submitted himself to both character and story, until there was no trace of the actual man. Only a memorable performance left an impression on the film. So much of his work he was a side character, but his imagination was so rich and vivid we easily fell into the worlds he was creating. The Master is a film worth watching and rewatching. It is allegory, parable, and cagey expose’ of movements and cultish behavior that we humans are frequently prey to when we’ve been traumatized (both real and imagined). Over the past 15 years the Church of Scientology has come under heavy fire, most frequently from former members. We aren’t the kind of folks that like to dog pile, or kick someone when they are down. If anything (and I think Sam would agree) if something works for you, take what you need and leave the rest. Our only caveat being “do no harm” to oneself, or to others. The cure for trauma, should not cause or inflict more trauma. If you enjoy the work of Paul Thomas Anderson we encourage you to check out our episode for Boogie Nights. Episode link below. Interesting side note to share: In 2025 NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex recovered samples on near Earth asteroid Bennu, that showed the building blocks for organic life. Scientists have posited the idea that perhaps asteroids are like factories for these building blocks, which are then delivered to a planet surface by meteorite impact. Perhaps L. Ron Hubbard was on to something. A&E Investigative Reports: The Church of Scientology https://youtu.be/K9x97R13MCA?si=WGcsrg8IwIlS2ZWx Une tarde en St. Hill (An Afternoon at St. Hill, audio in English) (1963) https://youtu.be/FttwISsJxgs?si=LUlt_o56TRbp9Fwa Celluloid Pudding: Boogie Nights, parts 1 and 2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/328lj4OzCXf7CZr1XB3zRa?si=YU9cmEfOQZmp7qGsEr858A https://open.spotify.com/episode/4V2JkbGT4104LL1b7XL5go?si=sCUq0tcFQxOI_NLojzdM2Q