Master Gardener

Name: Master Gardener
Genre: Thriller
Released: May 19, 2023
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Amy Le, Eduardo Losan, Erika Ashley, Esai Morales, Joel Edgerton

2023

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 45 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 5 Ratings

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Master Gardener

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: May 19, 2023 | R

Starring: Amy Le, Eduardo Losan, Erika Ashley, Esai Morales, Joel Edgerton, Quintessa Swindell, Rick Cosnett, Samuel Ali, Sigourney Weaver, Victoria Hill

Summary: Narvel Roth (Joel Edgerton) is the meticulous horticulturist of Gracewood Gardens. He is as much devoted to tending the grounds of this beautiful and historic estate, to pandering to his employer, the wealthy dowager Mrs. Haverhill (Sigourney Weaver). When Mrs. Haverhill demands that he take on her wayward and troubled great-niece MayaNarvel Roth (Joel Edgerton) is the meticulous horticulturist of Gracewood Gardens. He is as much devoted to tending the grounds of this beautiful and historic estate, to pandering to his employer, the wealthy dowager Mrs. Haverhill (Sigourney Weaver). When Mrs. Haverhill demands that he take on her wayward and troubled great-niece Maya (Quintessa Swindell) as a new apprentice, chaos enters Narvel’s spartan existence, unlocking dark secrets from a buried violent past that threaten them all. … Expand

Director: Paul Schrader

Genre(s): Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 110 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Tara Brady

May 26, 2023

At 76, more than 20 films into his storied career, Paul Schrader can still deliver a sucker punch. Read full review

Empire Lou Thomas

May 24, 2023

Paul Schrader delivers another compelling investigation of conflicted men in modern America. Master Gardener has a stately pace but a knockout punch; enriching cinema for the discerning punter. Read full review

Tomris Laffly

May 8, 2023

In the end, Master Gardener is ripe with seeds of ideas on the verge of blossoming into something beguiling, maybe even generously healing. What a way for Schrader to close the loop on his long line of tortured men. Read full review

Marshall Shaffer

Sep 17, 2022

Even if Master Gardener can feel like a bit of a potboiler moral drama, the heat generated is proof that Schrader can still bring the fire. The filmmaker grapples thornily and thoughtfully with difficult issues and destructive people, finding new ways to approach the questions that still haunt him. Read full review

Lindsey Bahr

May 17, 2023

Like a haphazardly planted garden, it’s lot of ideas that don’t seem to create anything terribly coherent but it has its individual pleasures nonetheless. Read full review

John Bleasdale

Sep 17, 2022

Ultimately, Narvel is the fascist as liberal fantasy. Someone with access to skilled violence, who can unleash it at whim. It’s such a pity that a screenwriter who used to excel at delineating the intricacies of male insecurity and poison now comes out with such a one-dimensional character. Read full review

Odie Henderson

May 18, 2023

Master Gardener is the third film in writer-director Paul Schrader’s redemption trilogy. The series includes 2017′s “First Reformed,” which is good, and 2021′s “The Card Counter,” which is not. Unfortunately, the trilogy ends with its worst entry, an excruciatingly slow white-savior narrative that aims to provoke yet does nothing but bore. Read full review

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User Reviews

davemelbourne58

May 21, 2023

Paul Schrader continues his lifelong battle with bringing these unorthodox troubled loners seeking some sort of redemption from their shady past onto the big screen. This movie is set in the gothic looking south--possibly New Orleans. Signorney Weaver has fun, and gets all the best lines.Paul Schrader continues his lifelong battle with bringing these unorthodox troubled loners seeking some sort of redemption from their shady past onto the big screen. This movie is set in the gothic looking south--possibly New Orleans. Signorney Weaver has fun, and gets all the best lines. Paul Schrader rarely disappoints, and even though it's not one of his best movies, it's consistantly good, and he always makes you think.
The EXACT opposite movie of Fast X that also came out this weekend.… Expand

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moviemitch96

May 25, 2023

Famed writer/director Paul Schrader concludes his unofficial trilogy of thematically similar films that each examine a man with a haunted/troubled past having to come to grips with their own demons. First we got Ethan Hawke in 'First Reformed' as a priest experiencing a crisis of faith andFamed writer/director Paul Schrader concludes his unofficial trilogy of thematically similar films that each examine a man with a haunted/troubled past having to come to grips with their own demons. First we got Ethan Hawke in 'First Reformed' as a priest experiencing a crisis of faith and increasing anxiety over climate change and the state of the world while still grappling over the loss of his son in the Iraq War. Then we got Oscar Isaac as a drifting gambler trying to run from his past memories of torturing prisoners in the military. And finally, we get Joel Edgerton as the horticulturalist of a wealthy dowager (Sigourney Weaver) attempting to bury his past as a former homicidal Neo-Nazi white supremacist, while also being tasked with mentoring her grandniece (Quintessa Swindell) in the practice. While much of the same common themes are present here as in the other two aforementioned films (writing in a journal, voiceover narratives, self-reflection, protecting/avenging a young protege, a cathartic act of violence, etc.), admittedly, none of it seem to flow quite as seamlessly or as effectively as it did in Schrader's previous two films. The story and motives simply aren't as compelling here, the narrative frustratingly similar to the other two films, and an underwhelming conclusion. While Edgerton is solid as always, and Weaver and Swindell each turn in worthwhile performances of their own, they simply aren't enough to keep the rest of the film from feeling redundant alongside Schrader's other two mentioned films and protagonists (all of which owe a debt they can never repay to his most famous penned film 'Taxi Driver' and antihero Travis Bickle.) Overall, Edgerton's gripping performance aside, it's safe to say that Schrader has capped his trilogy off with the weakest of the bunch, as he simply has nothing new to say in regards to the troubled/haunted man with a past they'd rather forget. These themes and motifs were perhaps stretched out by one film too many with this one.… Expand

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TVJerry

May 26, 2023

Writer/director Paul Schrader creates stories about complex people in unusual situations. This one stars Joel Edgerton as the titular character on the grand estate of a rich dowager (Sigourney Weaver). When a new relative is introduced, he's charged with her apprenticeship, but theirWriter/director Paul Schrader creates stories about complex people in unusual situations. This one stars Joel Edgerton as the titular character on the grand estate of a rich dowager (Sigourney Weaver). When a new relative is introduced, he's charged with her apprenticeship, but their relationship involves much more. Even with the moody aspects and tough situations, the emotional resonance never goes deep. Fortunately, the underplayed performances of the 2 leads make the movie worth watching. Schrader has a unique approach and simple style that makes his films interesting, if not powerful. This one is quietly redemptive.… Expand

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