MovieChat Forums > Joker (2019) Discussion > The Master was superior...

The Master was superior...

posted 5 years ago by CheekyMonkey (584)
6 replies | jump to latest

The Master, by Paul Thomas Anderson, was far better than Joker as a movie about mental illness... PTSD in that case (and perhaps more, even something similar to the stunted development in joker)...

It also starred Joaquin Pheonix, but his performance was better there.. instead of being a caricature, he seemed like a fleshed out man...

The movie also dealt with more interesting themes regarding "therapy", society's duty to the individual vs. self motivated improvement of one's affairs and wellbeing... As well as the cult stuff that was the setting of that movie...

I guess the comic book nature of Joker limits the movie significantly... it has to fit into the serialised nature of the comic book movie universe and the baggage of conforming to the idea of joker as either anarchist or incel-psycho...

Interesingly... Both movies illustrate the deep wound in modernity of what happens when the state or society replaces the role of the father (in both senses of the word)...

If you liked Joker, you might really enjoy The Master...

[–] Moviebuff1 (2835) 5 years ago

Agreed, and don't forget King of Comedy either, also with De Niro.

[–] Knish (1721) 5 years ago

Joker was way more entertaining though.

[–] degree7 (821) 5 years ago

The Master was a fine idea executed badly.

The Joker is just a cleverly marketed comic book origin story but in a fresh coat of paint.

Neither are particularly great.

[–] rudeboymurray (3291) 5 years ago

I don’t think either is a great movie, although both have exceptional elements. I guess The Master is more challenging, and it’s the one I’d most likely watch again one day. Phoenix is excellent in both but in The Master he gives one of the great performances of the decade, with Hoffman and Adams also at their best.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 5 years ago

Both bad movies with great performances by Phoenix. Strangely similar in many ways. Even their fans are similarly strident.

[–] CheekyMonkey (584) 5 years ago

I agree... Both flawed movies...

The Master has strange pacing, somehow Paul Thomas Anderson made that work for There Will Be Blood, but it felt a bit plodding in The Master... However, it remains a beautiful shot film...