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Quintessa Swindell

The Master Gardener: East of Eden

May 18, 2023 by Steve Norton

Just like the best of gardens, it takes a lot of work to revive the soul.

Written and directed by Paul Schrader, The Master Gardener tells the story of Narvel Roth (Joel Edgerton), the quiet but duteous horticulturist of Gracewood Gardens. Gracewood is the property of Nora Haverhill (Sigourney Weaver), a wealthy woman who demands perfection of her grounds and staff. For Narvel, however, his servitude to Nora is an opportunity for him to begin his life again so he remains both grateful and hardworking. But things change when Nora demands that Narvel take on her troubled great-niece Maya (Quintessa Swindell) as his new student. Although Maya works hard, her inclusion on the team brings new challenges and forces Narvel to face his own dark secrets.

In Gardener, Schrader continues to develop his own unique style of contemplative character dramas. In his recent ‘renaissance’ as a filmmaker, Schrader has returned to quieter stories that delve deeply into the frailties of humanity. (In other words, don’t look for him to direct the next Fast & Furious sequel…) Like his other projects, Gardener moves along at a slow burn but, when it unleashes, it does so with force. This is a story where the viewer is meant to feel the weight of the burden that Narvel experiences privately every day. 

In order to bring this to life onscreen, Edgerton’s performance remains heavy and reserved, as though each breath is an undeserved gift. However, when his character is allowed to unleash his inner rage, Edgerton becomes a different person entirely. Interestingly, Edgerton’s performance meshes well when held up against Swindell’s darker innocence as the two characters find solace when together onscreen.

However, what ultimately makes Schrader so fascinating as an artist is the way that he weaves his own unique brand of humanism with religious themes. As Narvel works tirelessly to keep Nora’s gardens pristine, he curates his very own Garden of Eden. Leading a team of staff who are looking for a place to belong, Narvel is a man too who has begun a new life amidst the trees. Keeping his past hidden, he lives a life of penance, serving dutifully in an effort to show that he is a different man. As a result, for him, this is a place where flowers bloom at their best and broken people find redemption. (After all, there’s a reason that the place is called Gracewood.) 

However, when a misunderstanding leads to their expulsion from the Garden, Narvel and Maya must seek their own form of redemption. Unlike the lush greens of the gardens, the outside world is harsh and cold. Yet, despite the harsh conditions, the two begin to face their demons. Together, they are forced to confront their emotional scars (or, in Narvel’s case, his literal ones) and hope that a new path can be found together. 

Without giving away any spoilers, it’s this relationship between Narvel and Maya that becomes essential to the film’s core. As they open the floodgates with their personal issues, Gardener becomes an intriguing journey into modern redemption. In a world that has been seeking answers in the wake of Black Lives Matter, Me Too, and other sociological wake up calls, this film wants to explore what it means to find forgiveness and more forward. Schrader has always been most comfortable sitting in the grey and, with this film, he is looking for ways to find hope in the modern era. Is forgiveness possible at a time when we must account for our sins? Can people truly change or are we always infected by the scars of our past? In Master Gardener, Schrader uses his characters to lean into these deeply spiritual questions with a recognition of modern sensibilities.

Admittedly, due to its pacing and, at time, strange narrative choices, The Master Gardener will likely not be for everyone. Unlike most dramatic stories, Schrader’s films are often puzzles that require effort to unlock and this film is no different. However, for those who are willing to invest the time, this Garden blooms beautifully in its own way.

The Master Gardener is available in theatres on Friday, May 19th, 2023.

May 18, 2023 by Steve Norton Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Joel Edgerton, Paul Schrader, Quintessa Swindell, Sigourney Weaver, The Master Gardener

Black Adam: The Dark Side of Heroes

October 20, 2022 by Steve Norton

It?s no secret that the DC?s cinematic adventures in recent years have been inconsistent, at best.?

While entries like Aquaman and Shazam! have proven successful, others such as Wonder Woman 1984 and The Suicide Squad films have failed to hit with audiences. (And that?s not even addressing the two hotly-debated Justice League cuts.) Now, with the release of Black Adam, the DC Extended Universe attempts once again to refuel with renewed focus.

And, this time, they may have actually done it.

Black Adam tells the story of Teth Adam (Dwayne ?The Rock? Johnson), the iconic ?champion? of Kahndaq. Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Adam was believed to be the saviour of the nation but was imprisoned for nearly 5,000 years. However, when he is released from his earthly tomb by those in need of justice, Adam?s rage is unleashed upon the oppressors of his home country?and anyone else who stands in his way.

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, Black Adam is a wild and frenetic affair that eventually becomes one of the better entries into the DC cinematic universe. While the pacing is erratic at first, Black Adam has a fire in its belly that anchors the film and makes it compelling. Throwing the film on his massive shoulders, Johnson takes hold of the DCEU and supercharges it back to life. Even in moments when the writing feels inconsistent, Johnson?s natural charisma helps keep the film focused and moving forward with authority.

In addition to its titular hero himself,?Black Adam?also introduces the Justice Society into their cinematic canon. Featuring characters such as Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell) and Atom Smasher (Noah Centenio), the Justice Society is well-known in the comics but are finally making their big screen debut. Admittedly, their inclusion does feels jarring as the script tends to assume that the viewer already knows these characters. This makes for a bit of a wonky start to the film instead of launching cleanly. However, the performances are so fun that one can?t help but welcome them into the action as the film unfolds. (It?s also worth noting that Hodge has some wonderful chemistry with Johnson as the two heroes clash over their different ideologies.)

Although Zack Snyder?s name is unattached, Black Adam feels as though it was made in his cinematic image. Featuring highly stylized violence and slow motion action sequences, Adam?s visuals fit very neatly the DC world that Snyder established with Man of Steel and Justice League. As a result, Black Adam feels like somewhat of a course correct from Warner Bros. as they attempt to restore the faith of diehard fans of Snyder?s work, while still chartering a new direction for the franchise. (In fact, without any spoilers, it?s worth noting that the film?s post-credit sequence is certainly a signal that what has come before is far from erased.)

So, while WB remains unwilling to fully restore the Snyderverse, perhaps they intend to repair it? 

Although Black Adam seems to be one of the rare examples of the DCEU to have a sense of humour, the film is at its best when it?s not trying to joke around. Considering the gravitas that?s embedded within the heart of its central figure, the more serious moments are the ones that put the film at its best. Though he is begged to be a hero, Teth Adam has a heart fueled by a deep-seeded rage that stems from the scars of oppression and pain. 

To him, being the champion requires a willingness to not play by the rules. 

After all, for almost 30 years, the nation of Kahndaq has found themselves burdened under oppression and violence. From military checkpoints to flying hover sleds, the people are constantly under surveillance. (Incidentally, Kahndaq feels like a unique blend of the technological advancement of Black Panther?s nation of Wakanda and the grounded realism of the modern Middle East.) Broken by subjugation, this is a culture that struggles to see the difference between right and wrong anymore, especially when one side claims to be doing things the right way. (?It?s easy to know what?s right and wrong when you?re the one drawing the lines of justice,? Teth Adam claims boldly.)

Interestingly, although virtually every other heroic character in the genre plays by some form of rules, Teth Adam is willing to break them all. Killing others without remorse, he constantly reminds those around him that he is no hero, even as they plead with him to become one. Although, ironically, this call to action seems to inspire the people. With Adam as their new ?champion?, the people finally believe that they have someone who is hearing their cries. In him, they believe they have a model to reclaim power. 

After all, for Teth Adam, the best way to end oppression is to end the lives of the oppressors. 

Even so, Black Adam never loses its concern for the soul of its hero. Members of the Justice Society not only fight against evil, they also fight to redeem Teth Adam and his actions. They continuously cry for Adam to do the right thing, rather than succumb to his more violent tendencies. (At one point, Hawkman even warns him that ?The more you give in to violence, the more it darkens your soul.?) But can one be heroic while allowing themselves to take the lives of others? This is the question that lies at the heart of Black Adam and actually makes it one of the more compelling entries of the DCEU. 

While Black Adam is far from perfect, there?s no doubt that it flexes its muscles. Fun and furious, Adamsupercharges the DC extended universe and actually brings enthusiasm for the next chapter of its story. Though often brutal, Teth Adam?s journey to save Kandahq is compelling in its character work and thrilling in its action sequences.

But, more importantly, he may have also saved the entire DCEU as well.

Black Adam is available in theatres on Friday, October 21st, 2022.

October 20, 2022 by Steve Norton Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Aldis Hodge, Black Adam, DC, DCEU, Dr. Fate, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Dwayne Johnson, Henry Cavill, Jaume Collet-Serra, Justice Society, Noah Centenio, Pierce Brosnan, Quintessa Swindell

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