The Goldfinch

Story: 'The Goldfinch' is based on Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer-winning bestseller by the same name. The movie chronicles a boy’s stoic journey to adulthood and his deep metaphorical connection with the only surviving piece from the attack – a painting of a bird chained to its perch called The Goldfinch.

Review: 'The Goldfinch' is the story of Theodore Decker (played at different ages by Oakes Fegley and Ansel Elgort), who loses his mother in a terror attack at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, when he was 13. With this tragedy as its backdrop, the film establishes itself as a dark and unrelenting saga of grief, guilt and redemption. From its very first scene in the chilly winter of Amsterdam, we see an adult Theo blaming himself for his mother’s death and are quickly transported back to his childhood.

Theo’s childhood moments are undoubtedly the best in the film, which is such a dedicated adaptation of the novel. Strong performances by the majority of the cast is one of the biggest highlights here. Leading in them is child actor Oakes Fegley, who beautifully brings to the fore young Theo’s vulnerability, trauma and internal conflicts. While his look is particularly nerdy and is way too mature for a 13-year-old, the character eventually grows on you. Ansel Elgort, as the older Theo comes a close second looking suave in his sharp suits and unpredictable expressions. This works well for his character, which is built on intrigue. Nicole Kidman as the aristocratic housewife from a wealthy family exudes class and motherly warmth with amazing restrain. The rest of the ensemble cast including Luke Wilson, Sarah Paulson and Jeffery Wright are quite impressive, even with their limited screen time. Director John Crowley manages to tease the viewer interest, leading us to expect big revelations all along. But towards the climax, it becomes a bit too convenient in a bid to bring the closure. The film is way too long for its own good and perennially gloomy. Thankfully, the cinematography by Roger Deakins manages to highlight the dark undertones of despair and anguish in almost every frame.

Overall, ‘The Goldfinch’ is melancholic and thanks to its source material, it often shows the potential of reaching out to the dark corners of your heart and soul. But for those who have read and reveled in the pages of Tratt’s masterpiece, the onscreen adaptation may seem slightly lacking and lost in translation. That said, it is definitely watchable albeit with a hurried conclusion that falls short of leaving you with an enriching emotional experience.