So, this was an interesting movie. It was really hard for me to find the point, so I kept watching, hoping that it would all make sense and come together at some point. Unfortunately, it did not. The acting was stellar, hence all of the awards nominations, but the story itself just wasn't there. A movie is more than just it's moving parts, but this movie did not seem to embrace that concept.
The trailer, and the descriptions at the awards shows, describe this movie as one that goes through a man's journey through life and his involvement in a famous cult. I love The Following, Criminal Minds, really any crazy, psychological, crime drama, so needless to say, I was very intrigued. This also just made me very disappointed as well. I also recently discovered that this was supposed to be a description of the beginning of Scientology which also makes it even more lack luster.
There really is not much for me to say, because there really wasn't much to the plot. Joaquin Phoenix was a drunk, and maybe a druggie, who made his own alcohol that included paint thinner and things (old-timey meth?) that may have actually killed a man who drank it. After he maybe kills the man, he runs, goes on a bender, and somehow ends up on Phillip Seymore Hoffman's boat full of cult-like followers. Phillip Seymore Hoffman then tries to change and better Joaquin Phoenix, but ends up failing (I think). There is the background of Phillip Seymore Hoffman trying to combat the cult charges against him, but that is really secondary to the hodge-podge development of his relationship with Joaquin Phoenix. None of it really makes sense, to me.
So, in the end, this gets a 3 out of 10 in my book.
