Starring: Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver, Quintessa Swindell, Esai Morales, Eduardo Losan, Rick Cosnett, Victoria Hill, Amy Le
OUR RATING: ★★★☆☆
Story:
Thriller drama written and directed by Paul Schrader. Master Gardener (2023) follows meticulous horticulturalist, Narvel Roth (Joel Edgerton), who is devoted to tending the grounds of a beautiful estate owned by wealthy dowager, Norma Haverhill (Sigourney Weaver). When she orders Roth to take on her troubled great-niece Maya (Quintessa Swindell) as his apprentice, his life is thrown into chaos, unlocking dark secrets from a buried violent past that threaten them all.
Best Quotes
Narvel Roth: The formal garden imposes geometric strictures on plants. Circles, squares, triangles. These are also known as French gardens. Informal gardens, also known as British gardens, were popularized in the 18th century and adhere to the shapes and contours of nature. A third type, the wild garden, only appears to be wild. It contains a seemingly random variety of plants and shrubs which supports insects and wildlife. Gardening is a belief in the future. A belief that things will happen according to plan. That change will come in its due time.
Isobel Phelps: You can’t spreadsheet nature. It’ll only surprise you.
Norma Haverhill: I love the early morning rain. It’s very, what’s the word?
Narvel Roth: Nitrogen oxide. Soulful.
Norma Haverhill: Yes, that’s it.
Narvel Roth: It’s always fun to watch grown men in pastel pants outbid each other over a flower.
Narvel Roth: There’s a few variations this year. Some practical, some seasonal.
Norma Haverhill: You know what they say, Narv? Money is the best manure. The better the money, the better the manure.
Narvel Roth: She went onto explain that aesthetic gardens were a recent development. In colonial times, gardens were utilitarian. A cross between a grocery store and a pharmacy. In the Gilded Age they became an entrance to high society. A place of conspicuous display.
Norma Haverhill: At Gracewood, we have the best of both worlds. Four generations of curated botany, horticulture, and display.
Norma Haverhill: Now, where were we, Sweet Pea?
Narvel Roth: You were wondering which color dress would be best. You wore the emerald green last year.
Norma Haverhill: With white frill on the sleeves and neck.
Narvel Roth: That’s right.
Norma Haverhill: I looked pretty good.
Narvel Roth: Yes, you did.
Maya Core: Narvel? What kind of name is that?
Narvel Roth: What kind of name is Maya?
Maya Core: Well, that is my name.
'Gardening is a belief in the future. A belief that things will happen according to plan. That change will come in its due time.' - Narvel Roth (Master Gardener) Share on X
Narvel Roth: You’ll learn how to garden, and you’ll also have classes in the history of gardens, and horticulture, botany.
Maya Core: Seriously?
Narvel Roth: Seriously. And I’ll be your teacher.
Narvel Roth: We have a few cultural differences that may take you a little while to get used to. For example, this is a riddle. Oh, this is a hoe, and there are in fact thirty-eight different kinds of hoes.
Maya Core: And how many kinds of riddles?
Narvel Roth: Well, that is what we’re about to find out.
Isobel Phelps: [referring to Maya] Has Norma met her? Why not? Doesn’t that seem strange?
Narvel Roth: It’s her land. Her garden. Her grandniece.
Narvel Roth: You know, people used to walk on the soil. Now they just walk on tar and concrete, wearing rubber soles. They used to sleep on the land, and there was an exchange, and that was a healing process.
Isobel Phelps: You amaze me when you get romantic like this.
Narvel Roth: The nandina is a species of flowering plant native to Eastern Asia. The smell at certain times of the year is minty, with a hint of almond. It gives you a real buzz. Like the buzz you get just before pulling the trigger.
'Money is the best manure. The better the money, the better the manure.' - Norma Haverhill (Master Gardener) Share on X
Isobel Phelps: It was commonly thought that a hundred and fifty years was the lifetime of a seed. In the 1950s, a Japanese botanist discovered viable lotus seeds in an Ice Age lakebed. A substantial portion were germinated. It is now believed that the lifetime of a seed is between eight hundred and fifty and twelve hundred and fifty years. Given the right conditions, seeds can last indefinitely. I wear mine on my skin every day.
Norma Haverhill: [referring to Maya] So, how is she doing?
Narvel Roth: Who?
Norma Haverhill: Who do you think?
Narvel Roth: It took you long enough to ask.
Narvel Roth: How much research did you do before you took her on? As I thought.
Norma Haverhill: I didn’t do much on you either.
Narvel Roth: She’s an apprentice.
Norma Haverhill: You were an apprentice once.
Norma Haverhill: [referring to Maya] It would be nice if the gardens remained in the family. Do you think she’s up to it?
Narvel Roth: That is a question only you can ask. I think that you should meet with her.
Norma Haverhill: Set that up. Now, take me to bed.
'Gardening is the most accessible of the arts. It's already there. Every seed is a plant, waiting to be unlocked.' - Narvel Roth (Master Gardener) Share on X
Maya Core: I’m a very simple person.
Norma Haverhill: There’s a lot to be said for that.
Maya Core: Do you want to hear this?
Norma Haverhill: I got dressed for garden work, walked over here, I invited you to lunch, I trusted you to Narvel. Of course I want to hear what you have to say. There’s nothing I want to hear more.
Norma Haverhill: [referring to Maya’s mother] You need to remember she wasn’t my child. She was my sister’s child.
Maya Core: But her name was Norma. Her mother named her after you.
Norma Haverhill: Betty, my sister, didn’t ask my permission to do that. I thought it was presumptuous.
Maya Core: Or maybe she wanted to obligate you.
Norma Haverhill: I believe that was her point.
Norma Haverhill: I gave your mother everything I could. My sister couldn’t give her enough. Whatever it was, it wasn’t enough. She couldn’t weed her garden.
Maya Core: And how could you have known that?
Norma Haverhill: There are things you know in your flesh, your nostrils, your eyes.
Norma Haverhill: I came here for a pleasant lunch, and here we are in the muck of the past.
Maya Core: It is a muck farm. And I’m sorry if I offended you. But I’m not inadequate.
Norma Haverhill: No, of course you’re not. You are impertinent. And don’t think for a second about leaving Gracewood Gardens.
'Gardening is the manipulation of the natural world. A creation of order, where order is appropriate. The subtle adjustments of disorder where that would be effective.' - Narvel Roth (Master Gardener) Share on X
Narvel Roth: I’ve never thought too much about women, other than as women. I’m not sure what it is about these two women, Norma and her grandniece. I’m not sure I want to know.
Narvel Roth: Take me, for example. Roth is my genus, or category, and Narvel is my specific name. Now Roth means red, or Rothum. So, if I were a Rothum, people might say, “Well, which of the reds is he?” And somebody might say, “Well, he’s the one who stinks,” and then I would be Rothum foetidum or Stinking Red. So, if you heard Rothum foetidum you would know that people were talking about me. That is, if people were thinking about me.
Maya Core: And what makes you so sure people aren’t thinking about you?
Narvel Roth: You walk a line, Maya. I walk a line. Norma walks a line. And you walk a line. Be careful.
Isobel Phelps: [after Maya is assualted by R.G] Well, frankly, I think Norma’s a little tickled by it. Not much happens at Gracewood Gardens.
Narvel Roth: Well, it’s a little too much drama for me.
Narvel Roth: Maya, I’m not a man to pry into other people’s lives. I’m certainly not a man to want people to pry into mine. The situation here is a little different. We take pride in our young staff at Gracewood. When they succeed, we feel good. And when they get drunk or post a sexist meme, well, that hurts us. But when they get beat up, that really bothers us.
Maya Core: So, you want to get rid of me?
Narvel Roth: Absolutely not. No, we want to be of help. Are you satisfied with the life that you have?
Norma Haverhill: [referring to Maya] She’ll figure it out. We all have to make our own way. You figured it out.
Narvel Roth: You were patient with me.
Narvel Roth: I have created this life. Filled it with rules. Now seems the time to break one.
Narvel Roth: So, how’s my old crowd?
Oscar Neruda: Dead, mostly.
Narvel Roth: Yeah, prison will do that to a person.
Oscar Neruda: You flipped. You broke up the band.
Narvel Roth: So, am I in the clear?
Oscar Neruda: That’s never going to happen. You’re a known guy. You put the deep six on nine bad guys. I mean, even if they’re dead, you’re not forgotten.
Oscar Neruda: [to Narvel] You’ve done a terrific job. Actually, I’m impressed. You know, I wish for both of our sakes we can go public. You’re a WITSEC poster boy. If I had a little gold star, I’d put it on your f***ing forehead right now.
Narvel Roth: [referring to Maya] She talked about her life. There’s something missing in her. Something vital fell out and something took its place.
Narvel Roth: It’s so simple when it begins. You don’t ask why. You forget how it started. One day leads to the next. The seeds of love grow, like the seeds of hate.
Norma Haverhill: I hate the internet.
Narvel Roth: Yeah, you hardly use it.
Maya Core: Before cell phone cameras, if you did something, it was your word against theirs. Now if you do something, your friends just record it and put it on the internet.
Norma Haverhill: I hear things.
Narvel Roth: What? What things?
Norma Haverhill: Is that you talking, or your d**k? You don’t think I see? You think you can run around the backyard in the middle of the night pulling your pants up, after paying a little visit to this one here? Ah. Well, guess it runs in the blood.
Narvel Roth: Norma, you asked me to look out for her.
Norma Haverhill: Yeah, but I didn’t think you were going to be Humbert Humbert in your own production of Lolita.
Narvel Roth: Maya’s just finding her own way.
Norma Haverhill: And I’m the f***ing Queen of Scotland!
Norma Haverhill: [to Narvel] I want you gone. I warned you. I don’t want you around here anymore.
Narvel Roth: Norma, I want to thank you.
Norma Haverhill: For what?
Narvel Roth: For having faith in me.
Norma Haverhill: I thought you had a green thumb. I didn’t know it was a green middle finger.
Narvel Roth: This was the time. The time I had been waiting for.
Maya Core: So, do I have to go back?
Narvel Roth: Well, you’re welcome to stick with me. If you trust me. Can you do that?
R.G: And you must be Farmer John.
Narvel Roth: I’m a gardener. That’s why I wear these funny clothes, and carry these pruning shears as part of my job. You know, pruning shears, they can snap off a branch, or a plant bulb just like that. Same time it takes to snap off a finger, or some testicles. Hey, Sissy, think twice before you move. I’ve done a lot of pruning in my life. RG? You got a visit from the police. I’m the second warning.
Narvel Roth: I found a life in flowers. How unlikely is that?
Narvel Roth: [flashback] Hey. I did everything that you asked me to do.
Oscar Neruda: And now you’ve testified, you’ll be relocated. Time to start a new life, pal.
Maya Core: You know, you talk a lot of s**t, but there’s one thing you don’t talk about.
Narvel Roth: What’s that?
Maya Core: Yourself.
Narvel Roth: Well, there’s not much to know.
Maya Core: I saw your tattoos last night. Did you want me to? That must have taken a long time.
Narvel Roth: It did, yeah.
Maya Core: Do you have anything to say about it?
Narvel Roth: Not at the moment.
Maya Core: You should have them removed.
Narvel Roth: I looked into it, and I decided not to.
Maya Core: Well, that’s really f***ed.
Narvel Roth: I thought you should know I was once someone else. I was raised to hate people that were different than me. And I did. And I was good at it.
Maya Core: And what did you do to the people you hated? Did you beat them? Kill them? What?
Maya Core: [to Narvel] Don’t f***ing talk to me about hate. I have enough hate for the both of us.
Maya Core: So, who are you right now?
Narvel Roth: I’m just a gardener, who used to be someone else. But now I’m your friend.
Maya Core: No, I cannot even be in the same room as you.
Narvel Roth: This journal was so helpful to me when I was under house arrest, and for many years after. Now, I just find it a burden.
Maya Core: I really want to take off my clothes. Is that okay? I want to take off my clothes so bad.
Narvel Roth: I would like nothing more.
Stephen Collins: What was the problem on the 9th Street Projects?
Narvel Roth: It was about a drug crew.
Stephen Collins: What type of drug crew?
Narvel Roth: Nice to meet you, Stick. And I’m sure you’re pretty good at your job, but I just don’t think that you can help me in this situation.
Stephen Collins: Hey, try me.
Narvel Roth: I just did.
Norma Haverhill: [to Narvel] Look who’s back. The bad penny.
Maya Core: [after R.G and Sissy vandalized Gracewood Gardens] What are you going to do?
Narvel Roth: You wait here, I’m going to tie up some loose ends.
Maya Core: No, these aren’t your loose ends.
Narvel Roth: They are now.
Narvel Roth: You wanted them dead, now here they are. Alright, come here. Now you’re going to shoot them right in the head.
R.G: Maya, please, we didn’t mean any harm.
Narvel Roth: You decide. Who do you want to shoot first? You can take whatever you want.
Sissy: We know we messed up.
Narvel Roth: Concentrate. It’s your move.
Narvel Roth: How’s Porch Dog?
Norma Haverhill: He’s going to be alright. I thought I’d have to pay the vet a fortune, but he just up and recovered on his own. Some men are like that.
Narvel Roth: I’d like to discuss the restoration of Gracewood Gardens. And the damage seems irreparable now, but plants rejuvenate, that’s what they do. Like us. Give yourself another year, and help me, or help us, and next year’s Spring Gala will be an achievement for Gracewood.
Norma Haverhill: And your other point?
Narvel Roth: That’s the us part. Maya and I will be living together in the cabin as husband and wife.
Norma Haverhill: That is obscene.
Narvel Roth: No, it’s not. I’ve seen obscene.
Norma Haverhill: [as she points her gun at him] Have you lost your goddamn mind?
Narvel Roth: Go ahead, pull the trigger. Go ahead, I deserve it. And there is a justice in it. But I have to warn you. The gun is not working, and it’s not loaded.
Norma Haverhill: Goddamn you, Sweet Pea.
Narvel Roth: A garden job well done is a visual pleasure. Where there was an unsightly tangle, there is a display of what should be there instead of what should not be. Gardening is the manipulation of the natural world. A creation of order, where order is appropriate. The subtle adjustments of disorder where that would be effective.
Trailer: