The Master (2012)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A troubled World War II veteran finds a sense of purpose within a mysterious and burgeoning philosophical movement.
The story
In early 1950, Freddie Quell, a sex-obsessed alcoholic Navy veteran, struggles to adjust to post-war society after World War II. Following a series of personal failures and a legal scare on a California farm, he finds himself in San Francisco. There, he encounters Lancaster Dodd, the charismatic leader of a philosophical movement known as 'The Cause.' Dodd identifies a unique quality in Quell and welcomes him into the fold. Quell begins to travel with Dodd's family to spread the movement's teachings, finding a new, albeit complex, sense of belonging while navigating the psychological demands of the organization.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1950, Freddie Quell, a volatile and alcoholic World War II veteran, is cast out of his life in California after a series of incidents. He ends up in San Francisco where he is taken in by Lancaster Dodd, the leader of 'The Cause.' Dodd subjects Freddie to 'processing' sessions to help him navigate his past. As they travel the East Coast together, the relationship between the two men deepens, though the members of The Cause grow wary of Freddie's erratic behavior. After a period of tension and a brief separation, the two reconcile. The story follows them to Phoenix, Arizona, and eventually to England. In the end, Dodd offers Freddie an ultimatum to join the movement permanently. Freddie ultimately chooses to leave, and the film concludes with a final, haunting image of him alone on a beach, reflecting on his past.
- First release year
- 2012
- Runtime (minutes)
- 137
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Paul Thomas Anderson
- Writers
- Paul Thomas Anderson · writer
- Cast and characters
- Joaquin Phoenix · Freddie Quell; Philip Seymour Hoffman · Lancaster Dodd; Amy Adams · Peggy
- Genres
- drama
- Themes
- post-war adjustment; belief systems; humanity vs. animalistic nature; master-disciple dynamics
- Tone and mood
- psychological; eerie; hypnotic
- Setting
- 1950s America and England
- Premise and plot tags
- cult; religion; post-war; psychology
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim for its performances, screenplay, and realistic portrayal of post-World War II Americans. It was praised as one of Anderson's finest works and a significant achievement of the 2010s.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 85% · scale: percentage · review count: 257; Metacritic · score: 86 · scale: 100 · review count: 43
- Awards and nominations
- FIPRESCI Award for Best Film · Best Film · Win; Volpi Cup · Best Actor · Win; Academy Award · Best Actor · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actress · Nomination
- Production trivia
- Shot almost entirely on 65mm film stock.; First fiction feature to be shot and released in 70mm since 1996.; Anderson's favorite film of those he has made.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…