I went into The Goldfinch without knowing anything about it. I had even managed to avoid trailers. My hope was that Donna Tartt’s 2013 novel adaptation would be able to sweep me up in the story and mystery that unravels.
The Goldfinch tells the story of Theo Decker at two pivotal times in his life. It begins with a tragic event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that sets the course for his span of typically unlucky circumstances. This mostly somber story jumps back and forth in time to show the connections he’s shared with interesting people who’ve crafted the person he becomes.
This film adaptation jumps from Theo in his 20’s (played by Ansel Egort) and young Theo (played by Oakes Fegley) in 40 minute segments. I can’t help but wonder why Amazon Studios (who distributed the movie) didn’t just cut these perfectly timed parts into four distinct streaming episodes. It would have played far better than the 2 1/2 hour drowsy character study that played on film.
Regardless, the story plays out in a very withholding way. It wants you to care about the bigger mysteries of Theo’s life, but doesn’t give weight to why they truly matter. The final act brings it all together in ways that only quick exposition can, and it leaves you with a nice aftertaste. However, for the first two hours, The Goldfinch dragged through vignettes with seemingly no purpose.
There’s so much beauty about The Goldfinch that it even feels like a period piece, even though it largely takes place around the ’00s. Also, the stark contrast between classic New York, wealthy families, and antique shops when compared to the underdeveloped desert suburbs of Arizona provides depth to Theo’s circumstances and complements the characters within.
The supporting cast is great. Nicole Kidman (as a temporary foster mom to Theo) is multi-layered, even when she isn’t in the majority of the movie. She’s joined by a great ensemble in Finn Wolfhard, Jeffrey Wright, Sarah Paulson and Luke Wilson. Yes, even Luke Wilson is believable.
In fact, it’s the way-too-subtle performances by the actors playing Theo that make it hard to relate to his character. When things go poorly in his life, you feel so detached from his character that it’s difficult to feel his anxiety. Egort and Fegley are great performers and it shows in a few pivotal scenes. Most of the fault goes to how the role was written. There’s so much mystery and deception behind it all without the reason for why the audience should be captivated. His story feels like a modern take on The Great Gatsby, but without the intrigue or charm.
I’d be happy to revisit The Goldfinch when it is available for streaming, but I couldn’t help but have the sluggish feeling where I involuntarily binged four long episodes of a deliberately-paced miniseries. It’s beautifully filmed and filled with stellar performances, but needs some solid trimming. C
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