It's not disappointing to see Paul Thomas Anderson in such similar territory to There Will Be Blood, but the earlier film's such a stronger indictment of religion and a more ordered, compelling narrative. It's still extraordinary to see Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman build off one another's performances with such collaborative spirit. The deprogramming scene, in particular, is an acting master class. Each man's use of charisma to different ends is intriguing enough and there's much to be said for the strength of Anderson's script. However, the film's final third feels sluggish, distractingly on-the-nose when when Amy Adams delivers a monologue in her last scene. Adams seems slightly out of place here, simply not keeping up with her co-stars. With the most limited of screentime, Laura Dern makes a far better impression. It's difficult to imagine anything will come close to matching Mihai Malaimare Jr.'s perfect cinematography.
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