Master Gardener offers quiet thought. Fairly unbelievable, it foregoes an everyday story for big ideas. Still, it's intimately grounded. There's natural dialogue, intense internal conflicts, delicate relationships, a concise plot, motivations, metaphors, and complex emotions. It has condensed themes of otherism, nature, adequacy, power, addiction, redemption, passion, repression, and order, which discretely synergize. The graceful acting provides layers, authenticity, humor, speech patterns, physicality, tonal subtleties, range, chemistry, outbursts, and vulnerability. Altogether, it may be too understated or meditative for some, but Master Gardener is a satisfying dissection of humanity.
Technically, Master Gardener is precise yet open-ended. Its lonely imagery uses formal composition, lighting, minute motion, center framing, distance, barriers and focus. The personal editing adds montages, gentle pacing, smash inserts, dissolves, jump cuts, and intercuts. Its music is ethereal, atmospheric, and distinct. The sound supplies ambiance, voiceovers, stings, abstract diegetics, volume, emphasis, and split cuts. Its production design establishes character traits, symbolism, plot points, and a botanical location. The minor effects provide violence, makeup, and some CGI. Its cast is experienced despite limited fame. Overall, Master Gardener carefully presents provocative concepts.
Writing: 9/10
Direction: 8/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Acting: 9/10
Editing: 8/10
Sound: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 7/10
Effects: 7/10
Overall Score: 7.9/10
Comments