Shocker: Paul Thomas Anderson's 'The Master' Will Be Rated R

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by Kevin Jagernauth
July 18, 2012 11:33 AM
7 Comments

"The Master"

Paul Thomas Anderson has directed five feature films. They have all been rated R. And guess what? "The Master" will be too.

The MPAA has come down with the decision, officially bestowing the film an R due to "sexual content, graphic nudity and language." The first two elements may not seem initially like things that would be featured in a film about the founding of a cult/religion/following (or actually, maybe they would) but if you notice in the first teaser (see below or image above), Joaquin Phoenix's character is building a sand castle of a nude woman. And in the footage we saw at Cannes, there is another shot from same sequence where we witness him masturbating (though it's not quite clear) from behind.

Co-starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams, the film, as you know, follows Lancaster Dodd -- clearly modeled on L. Ron Hubbard -- who starts a faith-based organization in the 1950s, and his relationship with Freddie Sutton (Phoenix) who becomes his right-hand man. The film is notable a few things, among them being shot in 65mm (hence the framing of the teaser spots thus far) and apparently upsetting Tom Cruise for suggesting that Scientology (or whatever) is completely a work of fiction.

No word yet on where it might premiere -- Venice and the New York Film Festival seem to be possibilities -- but you won't have to wait too long. "The Master" opens October 12th. [RopeOfSilicon]

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7 Comments

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andrew | July 20, 2012 12:32 AMReply

@CIRKUSFOLK - you forget about 'Fantastic Mr. Fox?' That was even PG as I recall.
jingmei | July 19, 2012 12:56 AMReply

Look forward to this interesting film.
Tom | July 18, 2012 3:49 PMReply

@CIRKUSFOLK Agreed, TWBB could have easily have been rated PG-13. The psychological intensity was more disturbing than the violence IMO.
Oh Hi | July 18, 2012 1:26 PMReply

I can't wait to see this movie. Paul Thomas Anderson movies are events as far as I'm concerned. I mean the dude knows what he's doing.
cirkusfolk | July 18, 2012 12:20 PMReply

Well the other Anderson just delivered his first PG13 film with Moonrise Kingdom and if any of PTAs film was gonna be PG13 I would've guessed itd be this one. Although There Will Be Blood is probably the softest R in cinema history. That and The Kings Speech.
THAT GUY | July 18, 2012 11:54 AMReply

Slow news day, huh.
tyrannosaurus max | July 19, 2012 5:13 AM

jolly good sir, jolly good.