The Goldfinch

THE GIST: Young Theo is visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art with his mother when some terrorist detonates a bomb. His mother dies in the attack and, in the general confusion, Theo steals The Goldfinch, a famous painting he was admiring. Taken in by a wealthy family, Theo gradually moves on, his life forever changed, but he'll always return to the painting he stole.

The Goldfinch is based on a famous novel (I never read it), but I'm afraid this is one of those cases when the book is likely better than the movie.

Don't get me wrong, I still liked it because it's captivating to see the life Theo lived, the friends he made, and the events that shaped him, but it's the kind of movie that makes you go, "Too bad, it could have been a lot better."

It certainly had an intriguing concept, and the talented cast includes Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman, Jeffrey Wright, Luke Wilson, Sarah Paulson, Finn Wolfhard, and Denis O'Hare.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you read the book, you'll likely come away dissatisfied, but I only recommend this to anyone committed to any of the actors really, because at the end of the day the movie... could have been better.

Grade: 6.5