Haunted by his past, WW-II veteran and drifter Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) crosses paths with a mysterious movement called The Cause, led by Lancaster Dodd aka "The Master" (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and his wife Peggy (Amy Adams). Will Freddie be able to outrun his past? Will The Cause help or hurt him? Can this tortured, violent creature be civilized? Or is man, after all, just a dirty animal? Nominated for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress at the **Academy Awards,** the **Golden Globes** and the **BAFTA Awards.** Winner of three prizes at the **Venice Film Festival**. *"It's a film bristling with vivid moments and unbeatable acting...the interplay of troubled souls desperate to find their footing." - Kenneth Turan, **The Los Angeles Times***