Master (2022 film)
Master | |
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Directed by | Mariama Diallo |
Written by | Mariama Diallo |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Charlotte Hornsby |
Edited by |
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Music by | Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Amazon Studios |
Release dates |
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Running time | 99 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Master is a 2022 American
Master had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2022, and was released in the United States via Prime Video on March 18, 2022.
Plot
Gail Bishop becomes the newly appointed and first Black
Jasmine initially makes friends with Amelia's rich white friends, although they ask her to clean up spilled drinks and don't pay her back for a pizza she orders. At a party, Amelia's crush kisses Jasmine and Amelia sees them. Amelia whispers to Jasmine that she hates her despite the roommates telling Gail everything is fine between them. Gail's new residence develops a maggot infestation.
Jasmine starts having nightmares and begins to believe that her English professor Liv Beckman is purposely giving her bad grades. She files a dispute, which impacts Liv's application for
Esther Bickert, Liv's mother and an Amish woman, informs Gail that Liv was actually born white and named Elizabeth. But after leaving the community Liv changed her name and began to present herself as Black. Esther implies it must have been a possession by the devil to make her do this. When confronted at a faculty party, Liv denies these claims and tells Gail that she was actually the daughter of a Black man, leaving it to the audience to decide what is the truth. Liv eventually leaves, putting on a black cloak that resembles the figure that was terrorizing Jasmine earlier in the film.
Gail criticizes the all-white faculty staff after realizing that she was not truly the school's master, but rather the “maid” who was meant to clean up the school's diversity problems. Gail notices that history has repeated itself, with no changes to Ancaster's diversity, and she resigns from her position.
Cast
- Regina Hall as Gail Bishop
- Zoe Renee as Jasmine Moore
- Amber Gray as Liv Beckman
- Talia Ryder as Amelia
- Talia Balsam as Diandra
- Ella Hunt as Cressida
- Noa Fisher as Katie
- Kara Young as Sascha
- Bruce Altman as Brian
- Jennifer Dundas as Julianne
- Joel de la Fuente as Lam
Production
In November 2019, it was announced
Principal photography began in March 2020.[4] Production on the film was shut down that same month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] It resumed filming in January 2021 in Poughkeepsie, New York, where Vassar College stood in for the fictional Ancaster College.[6]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2022.[7][8] It also screened at South by Southwest on March 14, 2022.[9] It was released on March 18, 2022.[10]
Reception
On the
Kevin Maher of The Times gave the film 2/5 stars. He noted some similarities to Get Out in Gail's storyline, but wrote: "Gail's story flops about aimlessly while idealistic new student Jasmine... is hounded by genre clichés... and a hooded figure striding spookily across the campus."[18] Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post gave the film 2/4 stars, writing: "Although Diallo makes some trenchant observations about diversity-equity-inclusion initiatives and cultural appropriation, she jams too many plot beats, characters and polemical points into the narrative for all of them to pay off satisfactorily."[19]
References
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (November 13, 2019). "Regina Hall To Executive Produce & Star In 'Master' Drama For Amazon Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (March 5, 2020). "'Master': Zoe Renee, Amber Gray Join Regina Hall In Amazon Studios Thriller". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- ^ N’Duka, Amanda (March 11, 2020). "'Younger's Molly Bernard Cast In 'Master'; Patrick Duffy Joins 'Lady of the Manor'; 'Desperate Housewives' Alum Andrea Bowen In 'Sinister Sister' – Film Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
- ^ ""Master" Filming at Airmont Diner". Rockland County Times. March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- ^ Murphy, Chris (July 20, 2020). "Regina Hall on Black Monday's Finale Twist and Why She Loves to Troll Issa Rae". New York. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- ^ "Master heading to Sundance". Hudson Valley Film Commission. December 9, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Lang, Brent (December 9, 2021). "Sundance Unveils 2022 Feature Lineup, Including Films From Lena Dunham, Amy Poehler and Netflix's Kanye West Doc". Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- ^ Lee, Kevin L. (February 2, 2022). "Sundance Film Festival 2022: MASTER & RESURRECTION". Film Inquiry. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ "Master". South by Southwest. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- ^ "New 'Master' Images Show Regina Hall-Led Social Thriller Ahead of Prime Video Release Date". Collider. January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ "Master". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- Fandom, Inc.Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ Brody, Richard. "Master". The New Yorker. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Wilkinson, Alissa (February 2, 2022). "18 indie movies everyone will be talking about this year". Vox. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Travis, Ben (March 19, 2022). "Master". Empire. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (March 16, 2022). "Master review – fear and racism in the American university". The Guardian. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Nowicki, Albert (March 22, 2022). "A review of 'Master' – Prime Video's new horror film". Prime Movies. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
External links
- Master at IMDb