Yes in fairness, I think I do agree that it's mostly about craft.
I'm not sure that it can be that alone though.
India Song is great craft and also extremely innovative (even if heavily inspired by Last Year At Marienbad imo), but to me it just isn't good enough of a viewing experience to call it a masterpiece.
Kings of the Road is visually incredible for 1975, but whilst being a decent movie, for me it isn't strong enough to be considered a masterpiece.
Saying that, conversely I think The Leopard is a rubbish movie, but I also think it's probably the most skilfully and effectively piece of visual moviecraft, the most visually beautiful movie, and I would find it difficult to discount it as a masterpiece on that basis.
Perhaps the Leopard is the exception which proves the rule.
Well, I'm not a Vulcan, emotion is an important part of the movie going experience, but how you ply that through script, and acting, or even in creating atmosphere, I consider craft as well.
The dictionary describes it as a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship. Artistry is a key word there, and how I try to approach a movie that could be considered in the realm of "masterpiece" -that is shooting for something transcendent as a piece of art- Is to come at it first, like a grown man - not just say, "Here I am now, entertain me", but realize that it might be a challenge to me, intellectually, emotionally; the subject matter might be uncomfortable, it might test my patience, but that's okay, watch like an adult, reflect, think, but also soak in the qualities that go into making a great art, great. While I enjoy film as a bit of candy, just for the fun of it, I don't want to completely infantilize myself as a viewer; and if you use words like sublime, elevated.... masterpiece, you're going somewhere significant, so approach it like that.
I don't always succeed, and it can sometimes feel like cinematic vegetables.
India Song wasn't happy fun time populist entertainment, sure. On the other hand, that doesn't mean a masterpiece has to be stuffy or a struggle to watch, Dreyer for example, felt his movies were accessible to the masses, and not just artsy farsty pieces for film snobs (
Out of the Past, for another, is a film noir masterpiece) - but the artistic qualities should be considered as a criterion for what a masterpiece is and what it isn't. Otherwise, you're not talking about a list of masterpieces, but 'personal favorites'.
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