When I see a movie (in this case a motion picture) in theaters, I will write the five things you need to know about it.  This is my first such piece.

5 Things You Need to Know About… 

THE MASTER

1. Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master is not accessible to the masses.  Should you go see it?  Read this first.  Listen to this second.

2. Joaquin Phoenix gives a physical acting “master” class (pun intended), but Phillip Seymour Hoffman, America’s best living male film actor (to Daniel Day Lewis’ best living film actor), gives his best performance.

3. This is less a movie about Scientology than There Will Be Blood was a movie about oil, but The Master is more about masters than There Will Be Blood was about blood.

4. While viewing, I cared more emotionally about the director’s journey in making the film than I cared emotionally about any of the characters portrayed on film.

5. The Master is a motion picture.  Period.  (Note: the second of the year after The Dark Knight Rises).  What does this mean?  All will be explained in a future column.