Yesterday, the New York Times published a nice overview of Paul Thomas Anderson's career, with special emphasis on his upcoming movie, The Master.

Somewhere in Los Angeles Mr. Anderson, 41, is now finishing what will be his sixth feature film. Fiercely protective of his process, he has declined to speak publicly about the movie. But the details suggest a story inspired by the founding of Scientology, and that has provoked industry whispers. With that church’s complicated Hollywood ties and high-profile adherents like Tom Cruise, a film even loosely based on it will guarantee discussion upon its release, on Oct. 12, by the Weinstein Company.

A couple years ago, I got into an argument with a friend of mine about There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men. He argued that No Country for Old Men was a better movie, and he had a ton of supporting arguments that made sense. If it was a high school debate class, he would have demolished me, because I couldn't argue that empirically, No Country for Old Men was a superior movie. But as much as I love the Coen Brothers, I just feel in my gut that There Will Be Blood is a better movie. Everything about it rings with genius. And the fact that Anderson is turning his genius to Scientology makes me even more excited to see his new movie. I know he won't be heavy-handed about it, but he will investigate L. Ron Hubbard's character, and he'll make art out of it. That makes this the most anticipated movie of the year, to me.