By Last month brought us the first footage from Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master, introducing us to Joaquin Phoenix’s character. Today’s teaser/trailer/clip provides our first glimpse of Philip Seymour Hoffman in action as the title character, Lancaster Dodd. With the hairdo and his overall demeanor, there is something L. Ron Hubbard-esque about him, but the performance is even more sinister and manipulative; he may be even more of a huckster sociopath. We also get a look at Amy Adams in character, so perhaps the next clip will focus on her.
Should be interesting to see how close they come to referencing Scientology without referencing Scientology. Some of the dialogue suggests it won’t be so oblique. Maybe P.T. Anderson will claim The Master is a prequel to Bowfinger? Whatever the case, if the release date holds, October 12th cannot come soon enough.
