MovieChat Forums > The Master (2012) Discussion > What do you think?

What do you think?

posted 10 years ago by brian_wolf_06
2 replies | jump to latest

I understand this film is loved, hated, or didn't totally understood by many people. I would fall into the did not totally understood group. However, regardless of how you feel about this movie, I would just like people to answer the following question.

What do you think is more challenging? Writing a film with many subtle points/symbolism that leave most of the film's interpretation to the individual viewing the piece. Or writing a film that has a complex, yet revealing plot that provides a twist or concrete resolution that can be similarly interpreted to almost anyone viewing the film?

So basically, what do you think would be easier to write? The Master or The Usual Suspects?

This question is not meant to portray any film in a negative light. I am just curious to see how most people would answer. Feel free to provide an explanation for your choice. Or not. Thanks for taking the time to answer and/or read this post.

[–] PhoenixPhuck 10 years ago

I don't hold The Usual Suspects in high enough regard to compare the two. But I understand what you're getting at.

I think both are hard to do, but I'd say it's harder to do one like The Master that reaches a large audience.

However, I'd say adapting LA Confidential seems harder to do than Usual Suspects or The Master.

Even the most primitive society has an innate respect for the insane.

[–] BrendanFrye 10 years ago

i'd say writing-wise, an LA Confidetial or Usual Suspects is more difficult to construct, as you have to tie all of the main characters into the central mystery while simoultaneously providing enough red herrings into the mix yet keeping enough real hints that the identity of the real killer doesn't come out of left field.

as for directing, i'd go with the master. while it's hard to construct characters that feel as rich as this, the hardest task is creating a film that lends itself to repeat viewings and that can feel as real as this. the subtlties in the master are endless, and constructing the story in this way is much more difficult than The Usual Suspects, where you really only have to point and shoot because the script has done all the work for you.

they call me the king of the run-on sentence.

what do you think, sir?