The acting is (too) great and highly believable but the story appears muddled and disjointed. I regret spending two hours watching Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman try to one-up each other's performance. Joaquin is on the comeback trail after spitting in the face of Hollywood but this performance is too excessive for the role. We know he can act but it is apparent that he is trying too hard to prove that he is the "best" actor in Hollywood. That chip on his shoulder is clearly getting in the way of his acting. Hoffman does quite well as "Master" but, again, his attempt is more than what the role calls for. Amy Adams is amazing and it is apparent that she has checked her ego at the door, unlike Phoenix and Hoffman. I recommend The Master for those who are fans of period pieces, notably 1945-1950, and over-acting; otherwise, skip it and watch one of the other movies that came out this year for a more enjoyable evening (Argo, The Avengers, Pitch Perfect, etc.).