Boxing Day Review

• 2nd Dec 2012

Bernard Rose returns to the work of Tolstoy with this adaptation of a short work Master and Man for the screen. This two hander finds property buyer Basil (Danny Huston) making a winter business trip to look at some foreclosed properties so he can buy them up and sell on for profit. Along for the ride is the driver, Nick (Matthew Jacobs), hired to chauffer him from location to location.

The two build a very uneasy rapport as boss and hiree as they eventually begin to discuss the others position in life. This leads to cheap pot shots, undermining the others position, jealousy and getting lost in the countryside along the way.

This is a slow building drama that may initially test the patience of the viewer, but given time the characters come through beautifully as portrayed by our two leads. There is a distinctive moral being brought to the fore of the story in its second half that leaves a lasting impression.

The HD video look of the film does add to the drama, keeping it dug deep in reality without ever needing to become cinematic for the sake of it. It’s all about what’s going on in the characters heads and staying in close with them – whether they want to stay together or not.

Huston plays the Lord of the Manor approach with ease, a man committed to his game, and unfazed by opionions about what he does for a living. Jacob’s equally is a man set in his ways, despite his childlike view of the world, or even to the thought that he some how is making the effort to be a better person, which we see throughout the film is not the case. A real thought provoking character drama.

Steven Hurst