IN A NUTSHELL:
This drama was written and directed by Paul Schrader. It's about a meticulous horticulturist who is devoted to tending the grounds of a beautiful estate and pandering to his employer, the wealthy dowager. If you're a fan of this director, you'll recognize some of the common themes he uses in many of his films, yet the look and feel of this movie is quite different!
THINGS I LIKED: The talented cast includes Sigourney Weaver, Joel Edgerton, Quintessa Swindell, and Esai Morales.
I love small details that underscore themes or subtle messages. For example, Joel Edgerton's haircut was carefully designed to resemble the "Hitler Youth" haircut during World War II. Once we see his Nazi tattoos, we begin to understand the philosophy he's fighting against in his own mind.
I hated the jellyfish wallpaper in the main house. That's another example of an intentional detail that Paul Schrader included to make the viewer feel uneasy. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director explained that he wanted to create a sense of coldness and that something is missing. Even the actors perform with that same wooden, empty sense that something is wrong.
The director used some creative camera angles that showed interesting perspectives.
In one scene, a character takes his shoes off and walks in the garden. He describes the healing process of nature. You can almost feel the dirt between his toes and his blood pressure lower.
If you love gardens, you'll enjoy some beautiful ones in the movie. The descriptions of flowers and gardening are insightful metaphors of life.
Shout-out to Meals on Wheels charity. They do good work!
The song at the end of the movie was lovely.
The title of the movie has a double meaning. We know master gardeners to be people who have trained in a certification program as experts in horticulture. But the word "master" also connotes the Nazi philosophy that Aryans are the master race.
This is the kind of movie that people will skim over, saying it was just okay, but if you were told the deeper meaning behind the director's intentional choices for various things, you would be much more impressed.
The color palette is pale and muted to allow the flowers and garden to pop. It also asks the question of whether a former drug addict and hater could ever see the true beauty in the world.
There isn't any humor. It's intentionally a drab existence except for the beauty of the garden.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: The ending wasn't believable, especially considering Sigourney Weaver's character.
Some viewers might get bored because it's slow moving and they'll wonder when something is going to happen. Look at this movie as a character study. Looking for all of the garden and flower metaphors should keep you busy.
TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids will be bored.
Profanity, including F-bombs We see a man covered in tattoos.
Violence Lots of talk of drug use and distribution We see the silhouette of a naked man and woman.
We see a woman throw up and go through drug withdrawals. Yuck.
!
THINGS I LIKED: The talented cast includes Sigourney Weaver, Joel Edgerton, Quintessa Swindell, and Esai Morales.
I love small details that underscore themes or subtle messages. For example, Joel Edgerton's haircut was carefully designed to resemble the "Hitler Youth" haircut during World War II. Once we see his Nazi tattoos, we begin to understand the philosophy he's fighting against in his own mind.
I hated the jellyfish wallpaper in the main house. That's another example of an intentional detail that Paul Schrader included to make the viewer feel uneasy. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director explained that he wanted to create a sense of coldness and that something is missing. Even the actors perform with that same wooden, empty sense that something is wrong.
The director used some creative camera angles that showed interesting perspectives.
In one scene, a character takes his shoes off and walks in the garden. He describes the healing process of nature. You can almost feel the dirt between his toes and his blood pressure lower.
If you love gardens, you'll enjoy some beautiful ones in the movie. The descriptions of flowers and gardening are insightful metaphors of life.
Shout-out to Meals on Wheels charity. They do good work!
The song at the end of the movie was lovely.
The title of the movie has a double meaning. We know master gardeners to be people who have trained in a certification program as experts in horticulture. But the word "master" also connotes the Nazi philosophy that Aryans are the master race.
This is the kind of movie that people will skim over, saying it was just okay, but if you were told the deeper meaning behind the director's intentional choices for various things, you would be much more impressed.
The color palette is pale and muted to allow the flowers and garden to pop. It also asks the question of whether a former drug addict and hater could ever see the true beauty in the world.
There isn't any humor. It's intentionally a drab existence except for the beauty of the garden.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: The ending wasn't believable, especially considering Sigourney Weaver's character.
Some viewers might get bored because it's slow moving and they'll wonder when something is going to happen. Look at this movie as a character study. Looking for all of the garden and flower metaphors should keep you busy.
TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids will be bored.
Profanity, including F-bombs We see a man covered in tattoos.
Violence Lots of talk of drug use and distribution We see the silhouette of a naked man and woman.
We see a woman throw up and go through drug withdrawals. Yuck.
!