20 Movies That Are Flawed Masterpieces

19. The Master (2012)

An inescapable feeling washes over you as you sit down to Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master: you are watching either the greatest movie of all-time, or the worst movie ever made. And for that reason, The Master - Anderson's alleged take on Scientology - cements itself as a rather fascinating film. It's also probably better off as a flawed film, because what use is a "perfect" movie on the bizarre subject matter that Anderson explores here?

The film itself follows a young drifter (played by Joaquin Phoenix) who finds himself drawn to a mysterious man, rumoured to be based on Scientology founded L. Ron Hubbard, and played here by the late, great Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Before The Master hit cinemas, of course, it was talked up as a masterpiece - the trailer, after all, showcased Phoenix doing some phenomenal acting, whilst the movie itself - Anderson's follow-up to his actual masterpiece, There Will Be Blood - seemed pre-destined for greatness.

But The Master is a weird and difficult film - one that may or may not get better with every viewing, but is undoubtably brilliant and special at the same time.