My first reaction to Paul Thomas Anderson’s films is generally mild — I thought Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch-Drunk Love were all okay, but they didn’t blow my skirt up until I rewatched them. I haven’t seen Hard 8, and I really liked There Will Be Blood the first time I saw it. The Master, despite having more in common with There Will Be Blood, nevertheless left me with a “meh” feeling. I wouldn’t recommend it, but if someone had already seen it, I’d tell them to rewatch it, as I plan to. Rating-wise I’m not sure where that places it.

Still, after mulling it over for the 45 minutes it’s been since I left the theater, I’m starting to like it more, and any film that makes me think has done some sort of job.

The story follows Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), a WWII vet whose wants teeter between drinking and screwing, and once one has been satisfied, he rigorously pursues the next. This doesn’t do much for his career as a photographer and later as a field hand, but he does end up as a stowaway on a ship captained by self-described “writer, doctor, nuclear physicist, theoretical philosopher, and, above all, human being” Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

There are few filmmakers who evoke the kind of passion from cinephiles the way PTA does. His films might not be everyone’s cup of tea (personally I rather Paul WS Anderson), but there is no doubt he has talent and an ability to relay a story in a unique way.

His newest film, The Master, has gotten a lot of people interested. It tells the tale of a man not to dissimilar to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, here is the official synopsis:

Universal Pictures period drama to star Philip Seymour Hoffman as a founder of a new religious organization in the 1950s. Hoffman would play “the Master,” as in “master of ceremonies,” a charismatic intellectual who hatches a faith-based organization that begins to catch on in America in 1952. The core is the relationship between the Master and Freddie, a twentysomething drifter who becomes the leader’s lieutenant. As the faith begins to gain a fervent following, Freddie finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor.

The film also stars Joaquin Phoenix whom the teaser centers around. This looks like a very interesting follow-up to There Will Be Blood and Phoenix’s own ‘interesting’ last few years. Even a non convert like myself is interested.

The film will be released this fall, check out the teaser after the jump.

Voting season is creeping up on us, which means we’re in store for a few “Oscar grab” political thrillers in which some of Hollywood’s elite take on a few stories ripped from the headlines or a topical political book. Who’s the man for the job? Clooney, of course.

The film focuses on several big names in H-Wood’s current “top 100” list, including Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, and Ryan Gosling. Here’s the film’s premise.

The Ides of March takes place during the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, when an up-and-coming campaign press secretary (Ryan Gosling) finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate’s shot at the presidency.

Yes, you can expect a face-off between Clooney and Gosling. Anyone else find it strange that Clooney manages to work his way into a film with whoever the current rising star is? Coincidence? We think not.

Take a look at the official clip, titled “My Name is Molly”, after the jump, and catch The Ides of March in theaters on October 7th.

Intense, political films are a staple in Hollywood. They provide fodder for good drama and also allow the filmmakers to say a little something about the political climate and their feelings about the government and how its run.

A new film trying to fit into that mold is George Clooney’s upcoming The Ides of March. The film, about cutthroat political politics and based on the play by Beau Willimon, has a new trailer out today and we’ve got it for you right here.

The Sony Pictures released features a great cast, including Clooney himself, such as Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti. Clooney has done a pretty good job with his previous outing as director so it will be interesting to see this new one once it arrives.

Check out the trailer after the break. The Ides of March will open the Venice Film Festival this year with a release sure to follow.

The upcoming film Moneyball has already had its share of problems. After being shutdown only days from shooting in 2009, the film finally found its way back into production with a new director, Bennett Miller, and will be released later this year.

As the release is getting closer, we’ve got the first trailer for the film today from the folks over at Yahoo Movies. In this one we get an earnest Brand Pitt and a rebellous and wisecracking Jonah Hill.

Together, they make an unusual odd couple but at least in the trailer, the odd pairing seems to work. Now if the film can only live up to all the hype surrounding it and Pitt and Hill can really pull things off.

Well then, friends, we may just have a homerun on our hands. See what I did there? Sports metaphors and all that. . . nevermind.

Moneyball, which in addition to Pitt and Hill features Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright and Chris Pratt, hits theaters on September 23rd. Check out the trailer after the break.