Theodore “Theo” Decker (Ansel Elgort) was 13 years old when his mother was killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The tragedy changes the course of his life, sending him on a stirring odyssey of grief and guilt, reinvention and redemption, and even love. Through it all, he holds on to one tangible piece of hope from that terrible day...a painting of a tiny bird chained to its perch. The Goldfinch.
It’s safe to say that The Goldfinch hasn’t been met with critical acclaim. Indeed, only a few reviews are positive, which almost put me off going to see the film at my local cinema. What I found however was a thoroughly enjoyable slow-burn movie, which is beautifully shot and conveyed a sense of grief, despair and redemption. Some criticism of the movie has stemmed from a perceived ‘mishandling’ of the source material. I have not read the book, so I cannot really comment on this, however I found the story quite complex and engaging. I love the way different characters are woven together and revisited later at a different stage in their life. The best way I can think to describe this movie is like a painting. You start by focusing on the first thing that catches your eye (in this case young Theo), and then slowly pan out to see all the complicated connections, feelings and subplots which make up day to day life. For this reason, some scenes are initially confusing, but start to make more sense as the film progresses. You just have to put your faith in the fact your questions will be answered within the 140 minute runtime. The acting throughout the movie is strong, with standout performances from the actor who plays younger Theo (Oakes Fegley) and older Boris (Aneurin Barnard). The latter is a hugely likeable character who I think should have been further explored during the movie. Younger Boris is also played well by Finn Wolfhard, but I had real difficulty in believing his strong Eastern European accent. It wasn’t a bad attempt, but knowing Wolfhard from other high profile roles, I just found his character quite immersion breaking. Overall, I enjoyed this movie. If you want something happy and uplifting, then choose something else. However if you’re a fan of the drama genre, then The Goldfinch is a good movie with lots of heart and is well worth a watch.