By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.3 cats
Director: Paul Schrader
Starring: Eduardo Losan | Esai Morales | Joel Edgerton | Quintessa Swindell | Sigourney Weaver
Year: 2023
Running time: 111
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15342244/reference/
Chris says: “Paul Schrader has long established a reputation for going there, which is a major component of his sensibility and thus his peculiar appeal. Consequently, his movies work best when centered on a performance that understands how nutso the material is and can bring it across convincingly anyway (definitely Ethan Hawke in FIRST REFORMED, not so much Willem Dafoe in LIGHT SLEEPER.) As impassioned horticulturist Narval Roth, Australian actor Joel Edgerton is a strong choice because he’s so adept at disappearing into a part. As he did in LOVING, he convincingly adopts a specific physical appearance and voice (a plebeian, nearly Noo Yawk accent) that immediately defines his character which makes the eventual reveals about him all the more potent and shocking.
“Still, MASTER GARDENER can be more than a little silly and calculated. For a while, after the big reveal occurs, there is a jolt in that it could go in a number of directions. The one it chooses is a redemption-for-an-abhorrent-past narrative, which has been done to death although Edgerton’s commitment to the story and the part does some heavy lifting. Quintessa Swindell is promising as his young mentee, but as her great-aunt and his employer, Sigourney Weaver is something else: a prickly, wealthy matron out of a classic Hollywood picture that might come off as a caricature without Weaver’s authoritative take on and comfort with the role. Ultimately, it’s her and Edgerton’s presence and ease with being a little nuts keeping Schrader afoot on the tightrope he’s walking (if barely.) 3 cats
“(Screened at IFF Boston 2023; in theaters May 19.)”
Michael says: “Not having seen Schrader’s recent work (FIRST REFORMED; THE CARD COUNTER) I have to go way back to AFFLICTION, THE COMFORT OF STRANGERS, AMERICAN GIGOLO for my reference points, and sadly, MASTER GARDENER is pretty uneven. Starting with the positives, the film is beautifully shot. The cinematography, and composition are visually striking and keep the eye entertained. Given the background of gardening, there’s a lot to work with. Leading man, Joel Edgerton, is also strong, playing a complex character around whom the movie revolves. Sadly, that’s about all the good I can say about the film, and the most egregious stumble being Schrader’s screenplay. Edgerton’s Narvel Roth is a highly controlled man with a dark secret. He is the master gardener for the exceedingly wealthy Norma Haverhill (the usually compelling Sigourney Weaver). Their relationship is both formal and familiar, and somewhat erotically charged. Entering this mix is Haverhill’s young grand-niece Maya (played with a bit of lackluster by newcomer Quintessa Swindell). Maya’s a bit lost, yet smart, and strong-willed; she comes on as an apprentice, learning the gardening arts from Roth, and hopefully continuing the Haverhill garden legacy when Norma is gone.
“If this sounds like an intriguing plot, let’s just say that as things progress, the story just unravels into both predictable paths that we’ve seen over and over, and outright silliness. Weaver’s character is so broadly written as to be a caricature that not even this talented actor can save. And Maya, as the catalyst of this unravelling needed a much more compelling performance to rise about the dull script. I won’t even go into the rather unfortunate relationships that develop given the characters’ pasts that leave a bad taste in my mouth. 1 1/2 cats”
Tom M. responds: “I love Paul Schrader (and he’s hit or miss as a filmmaker) but had a hard time wrapping my mind around this one and heard a lot of negative buzz, so thanks for confirming.”
Gil says: “Paul Schrader makes odd yet interesting films. He isn’t afraid to tackle big issues with ugly characters but the execution doesn’t always work. Like TAXI DRIVER for which he wrote the screenplay, MASTER GARDENER is a character study. In this one, Joel Edgerton plays Narvel Roth, a horticulturist who is working for a wealthy estate owner, played by Sigourney Weaver. As the film continues, we learn that Narvel is in the witness protection program for having cooperated with the authorities to convict his former white supremacist criminal associates. Narvel eventually falls for the niece of the wealthy estate owner and, similar to Taxi Driver, the protagonist looks to save a young girl from her criminal element.
“Edgerton is great in the lead role but the script seems underdeveloped as do other characters in the film. At a few points, the dialogue is laughable as it seemed contrived and unrealistic. Even though I can’t recommend MASTER GARDENER to most people, it is certainly an interesting watch for those who are curious to see what Schrader’s work looks like in 2023. 2.5 cats
“(Screened at IFFBoston 2023 – now streaming)”