Lorraine Kirkland

Having been captivated by the novel, I was amazed to discover the local movie theater in a small town in Florida was showing “Goldfinch.” I was the sole person in the audience, mid-afternoon on a Sunday. Beginning in Amsterdam, with the main character, Theo, a young man, jarred me a bit, but I found myself enjoying the director’s vision in not following the book’s more linear development. I believe a more slavish adherence to the book would have weakened the presentation. I am surprised by Rotten Tomatoes’ very poor rating and the recent NEW YORKER’s review is equally dismissive: “This sprawling yet rushed adaptation of Donna Tartt’s novel is textureless and flavorless.” Despite the duplicity in which Theo engages, there is a kind of redemptive quality at the end. As friend Boris says, Sometimes out of bad things, good emerges. The acting was strong. I thoroughly enjoyed the film.