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Last night at the New York premiere, which was also the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, in his introduction Mr. Weinstein said “it would be wrong” not to remember that tragic event. He also showed his support for President Obama. “I do want you to know that I think it’s a safer time,” now than in 2008, he said, and reminded the audience of the differences between the two candidates; Governor Romney had said he wouldn’t spend any money going across the border into Pakistan, that “it wasn’t worth it,” while the other candidate, had said “whatever it took to bring justice to this country he would do.” Then Mr. Weinstein joked, “No politics huh? I couldn’t resist.”

He added that “working with Paul Thomas Anderson not only do you get to watch a great filmmaker at work, but you also learn incredible things about marketing.” He talked about how Mr. Anderson did pop-up screenings across the country, announcing them on his website, and holding them where there were 70mm theaters, “which is uppermost in his mind.” The screenings, where the director participated in Q&A’s afterwards, brought out 1000’s of people. The director donated the money to Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation, which preserves film.

“I just want you to know this is my idea of a pop up screening tonight,” Mr. Weinstein said.

Mr. Weinstein then introduced star Amy Adams and producer JoAnne Seller, who said Mr. Anderson couldn’t be there because he was doing “a pop-up” screening in Austin.

Ms. Adams said that “working with Paul was so much more joyful and fun than I expected. I expected it to be very serious” and went on to pay tribute to “Joaquin and Phillip, who give so much of themselves to these performances.”

After the film people lingered outside the Ziegfeld and discussed the film, which many people admitted is at times impenetrable. We saw documentary pioneer Mr. Pennebaker and congratulated him on the honorary Oscar he will receive from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Dec. 1 at an awards dinner and also asked him what he thought of “The Master.” He praised the beauty of the cinematography and the gorgeous images, especially on the 70mm widescreen. He seemed to agree the movie is as hypnotic as it is mystifying, but in the end you’re just happy to be swept away on the journey, which is unbelievably beautiful even if you don’t understand everything you’ve just seen.