With Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master" heading full-steam into its official premiere at Venice (though it has already screened "unfinished" in a handful of cities), the one overriding message from everyone involved thus far is: it's not about Scientology. And indeed, our own review said that "while those looking for a scathing indictment of any well-publicized religion are certain to find similarities, in some cases even direct parallels, Anderson never creates an atmosphere of outright derision." And it's that statement Amy Adams was presumably trying to get across in her appearance on "Late Night With David Letterman" last night, before she was interrupted numerous times by the host who couldn't help himself by mentioning Scientology numerous times.
At any rate, the clip presented on the show will certainly keep comparisons to L. Ron Hubbard's religion going. In it, we see Mary Sue Dodd (Adams) warn her husband Lancaster (Philip Seymour Hoffman), that they must use attack as a defense mechanism against those who are criticizing The Cause. It's certainly the kind of tactic the lawsuit-happy Scientology organization tends to take (please don't sue us).
Take a look at both the clip and part of Adams chat with Letterman below. "The Master" will audit you on September 14th. [Cigarettes & Red Vines]
The 1950's were an interesting decade. The US was between wars, civil unrest on the rise. Douglas MacArthur often reference the Art of War said this "I am closing my 52 years of military service. When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have long since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that "old soldiers never die; they just fade away." We had occupied Japan, then went on to Vietnam, Cuba… But we are not alone. The art of attack is ours as a species. We cannot in good conscious say it belongs to "them." and be absolved of guilt.
Amy Adams is an awesome actress. Loved her performance in Julie and Julia, Enchanted and Catch me if you can. She's one of those Hollywood jewels that shine because of her undeniable talent.
"The only way to defend ourselves is to attack. If we don't do that we will lose every battle we are ever engaged in." – Mary Sue Dodd (Amy Adams)
"The DEFENSE of anything is UNTENABLE. The only way to defend anything is to ATTACK, and if you ever forget that, then you will lose every battle you are ever engaged in, whether it is in terms of personal conversation, public debate, or a court of law. NEVER BE INTERESTED IN CHARGES. DO, yourself, much MORE CHARGING, and you will WIN." – L Ron Hubbard, A Manual on THE DISSEMINATION OF MATERIAL, Ability Magazine 1955, The Technical Bulletins of Dianetics and Scientology Volume II 1954 – 1956 [Caps are Hubbard's]
Reminds me of the trailer for a Serious Man with the constant banging. Joaquin's fists on the window and Stuhlberg's head on the chalkboard.