I could not take my eyes off Phoenix. he was mesmerizing in this role but not in a good way because his character was not likeable. I did not think the story was that great either. I thought Hoffman and Adams did a good job too but the story was flat.

From the tally of comments, the scales are mostly tipped in one direction or the other: either pro or con. No middle ground. A very peculiar, unconventional film; well acted, and cast, but bizarre. Perplexing. Difficult to summarize. Well, maybe not. An L. Ron Hubbard-like character and his odd relationship with a turpentine-swilling loose cannon. What was Anderson hoping to impart upon his viewers? Puzzlement? That's mostly what I'm left with. Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams -- all first rate; the story, however, (for me), lacked cohesiveness, and a strong foundation.

An excellent film. A great study of human psychology and how religious cults appeal to humans' need to belong. "Freddy" was an alcoholic mess and those in the cult were the first people to care about him, so of course he was attracted to it. I won't spoil the plot. Brilliant acting. If you're into Disney films, this won't appeal to you.

I have loved every film by Paul Thomas Anderson. This is my least favorite. More Punch Drunk Love than Boogie Nights, but without as much dark humor. Filmed exceptionally well with incredible acting. The plot is winding and more or less much ado about nothing. The journey is much more appealing than any sort of destination. Style over substance. Effective use of music as well, as per the usual for P. T. Anderson films. I will watch this movie again, but I was honestly a bit let down by it. Worth watching if you are a bit of a movie snob or love his other movies (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love, Pleasantville, There Will Be Blood). Long run time as well.

Alright, people: In the interest of anyone who doesn't wish to "waste their time" on this movie and in order to get it into the hands of people who appreciate "film"... I'm willing to play the part of pretentious film student. If "The Blindside" or "Silver Linings Playbook" is your idea of time well spent -- DO NOT BOTHER with this film. It will not be inspiring, hopeful, entertaining, romantic (though it contains, in my opinion, one of the most stirring kisses ever put on film), or even thought-provoking in the way that you want it to be. This is pure cinema meant for that subset of people who have graduated from your average "movie-lover" to someone who LOVES FILM. Others here have said it better than I could ever hope to as I'm no critic -- just another know-it-all young film geek who's aware that American cinematic history did not begin with Star Wars. I'm hoping this will effectively thin out the line of 137 people before me because I am ACHING to see this movie a second (and likely third) time. Oh and p.s. -- if you're into Scientology, I imagine you'll find this film offensive on some fronts.

An auteur director making an unapologetically auteur piece; an inscrutable character study refusing to neatly wrap up in an unearned tidy ending and instead leaves you questioning, forcing you to do what you never want to do in a theatre: analyze rather than empathize. This is an all-time director working at the top of his game to deliver seemingly unexplainable themes in a non-narrative non-traditional fashion, because that’s the only way his stories CAN be told. I wasn’t crazy about Ebert as a critic, but one of the most brilliant things he ever said that I often want to shout at people is “It’s not what the movie’s about, but how it’s about it,” and the “how it’s about it” is absolutely on another level in this film. The craft on display here is simply staggering, and people need to realize this, because it’s absolutely precious to be able to experience one of the greatest directors who will ever live operating in his prime -- this is Jordan in the 90’s stuff, revel in it! It’s sad that what we seem to want most from our masters of cinema is the safe and conventional.

Thin, very thin. The director of photography salvages the movie. It's a very well made movie with nothing to say! Don't waste your time.... so many of us already did.

A strange and mostly incomprehensible film. Excellent cast, especially Phoenix, but the story didn't really hold my attention. Gorgeous photography. Difficult to recommend. Of interest really only to acting students.

zzzzzzz. Pathetic. Cancel your hold on this garbage.

Excellent filmmaking and hard to imagine another cast that could have pulled it off.