"The Master" (R, 136 minutes).

Paul Thomas Anderson's flick is fabulously well-acted and crafted, but when I reach for it my hand closes on air.

It has rich material and isn't clear what it thinks about it.

It has two performances of Oscar caliber, but do they connect? Its title character is transparently inspired by L.

Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, but it sidesteps any firm vision of the cult religion itself--or what it grew into.

It isn't boring, but it isn't satisfying.

Oscar-caliber work by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix.

Two and a half stars... See Complete Article @ Roger Ebert