Review: Film adaptation of The Goldfinch not great, but good enough

Condensing a Pulitizer Prize-winning novel into a two hour long movie is no small feat. Living up to the high expectations of a loyal fan-base is even more challenging.

The magnificent book is one of the best I've ever read, now of course, The Goldfinch is a film.

This story is so dense, so loaded, teeming with such potency that makes it, in my view, nigh on impossible to do it justice in a one film timeframe.  

Yet here it is with Baby Driver Ansel Elgort in the front seat as older Theo, his younger self is Oakes Fegley as young Theo, both complimenting and augmenting their duel delivery rather nicely.

Does it help to know Theo already? Fellow book lovers I think you'll agree that why yes it does, but this story should still be an easy follow if not.

Young Theo loses his mother, his life implodes and he grows up nursing potentially fatal emotional wounds. He will self-medicate amidst the self-destruction and at the heart of his struggle, and this narrative, is a painting. The Goldfinch.

Of course, I wanted this film to fill all the chambers of my heart but accepting the fact it does not and embracing these wonderful characters and rich story all over again, it still delivered me much nourishment, forgiving The Goldfinch for not being a great film, but good enough.

3.5 stars.