Script to P.T. Anderson Project Leaked?
Posted 02.02.10 by Rich Z
It's been two years since There Will Be Blood, and although Paul Thomas Anderson had been turning out movies with Kubrick-like slowness, he already has the idea for his next project. The movie will star Philip Seymour Hoffman as the charismatic leader of a cult-like religion that some say points to Scientology.
Few other details were released, but The Playlist caught sight of The Cinematic Experience of Forizzer blog, whose author claims to have read the script. He then follows with what he claims is a full-length synopsis and review.
Here's the condensed version from The Playlist:
According to the review (and much like the original synopsis), the film focuses on a guy in his '20s called Freddie, who leaves the Navy after his appendix bursts. He swiftly becomes an alcoholic, and begins brewing his own beer, but when it almost kills an immigrant worker, he runs away to sea again, and falls under the spell of a man known as "Master" (Hoffman's character), a family man who is also the leader of his own religion.
Then the Forizzer author's impressions:
The script was mashed together rather haphazardly ... Poorly written, but excellently constructed, Untitled Scientology is one of the better scripts I've ever read ... It isn't what you'd expect a film to be about when “the origins of Scientology” are in the cards, so I applaud Anderson for making this grander than the cinematic cheap shot one would anticipate. It's more Punch Drunk Love than anything else as he utilizes a distinct mood to drive an age old theme.
It's hard to know whether this guy is for real, but he certainly does outline extensive details. But even if he did read an authentic script, it has to be in its early stages, which could mean drastic changes for the final version.
In any case, it's been a while since we've heard any news from P.T. Anderson; and since he crafted what some consider the best comedy and the best drama of the aughties (Punch Drunk Love and There Will Be Blood), we're anxious to learn more about what he's up to next.