• Latest
  • Trending
Good One Review

Good One Review: On Fathers, Daughters, and Letting Go

The Black Forest Murders Review

The Black Forest Murders Review: Beyond Spectacle, Into the Grim Expanse

Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving Review

Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving Review: A Gentle Tale of Teachers and Teens

Amityville: Where the Echo Lives Review

Amityville: Where the Echo Lives Review – Charting Inner Turmoil in a Familiar Frame

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

Gannibal Season 2 Review

Gannibal Season 2 Review: Blood Legacy and Brutal Truths Unveiled

Stick Season 1 Review

Stick Season 1 Review: Owen Wilson Drives a Heartfelt, Flawed Dramedy

Henry Fonda For President Review

Henry Fonda For President Review: More Than a Man, A Mirror to America

825 Forest Road Review

825 Forest Road Review: Cognetti’s Ambitious, Uneven Haunting

Eric Larue Review

Eric Larue Review: No Easy Answers in This Unsparing Drama

The Heart Knows Review

The Heart Knows Review: Searching for Sincerity in a Tale of Two Worlds

To a T Review

To a T Review: Finding Perfection in an Imperfect Shape

Mad Unicorn Review

Mad Unicorn Review: Ambition and Its Echoes in the Global Stream

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Gazettely Review Guidelines
Sunday, June 1, 2025
GAZETTELY
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    Michael Cera Jackie Chan

    Michael Cera Says Jackie Chan Mistook Him for a Contest Winner

    Finn Bennett

    Finn Bennett Joins Targaryen Court in HBO’s Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

    Elio

    Pixar’s “Elio” Sets June 20 Liftoff With New Directors at the Controls

    The Return

    Malta Lines Up “The Return” and “Compulsion” for Mediterrane Film Festival

    Alan Alda Loretta Swit

    Alda Hails Swit’s Legacy After Emmy-Winning Star’s Death

    Doctor Odyssey

    Disney Faces Harassment Suit From Doctor Odyssey Crew

    paramount

    California Senate Probes Paramount’s $15 M Offer to Trump

    Valerie Mahaffey

    Emmy Winner Valerie Mahaffey Dies at 71, Publicist Confirms

    Terrifier-4

    Damien Leone Pledges Epic Backstory Reveal in Terrifier 4

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    The Black Forest Murders Review

    The Black Forest Murders Review: Beyond Spectacle, Into the Grim Expanse

    Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving Review

    Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving Review: A Gentle Tale of Teachers and Teens

    Amityville: Where the Echo Lives Review

    Amityville: Where the Echo Lives Review – Charting Inner Turmoil in a Familiar Frame

    Gannibal Season 2 Review

    Gannibal Season 2 Review: Blood Legacy and Brutal Truths Unveiled

    Stick Season 1 Review

    Stick Season 1 Review: Owen Wilson Drives a Heartfelt, Flawed Dramedy

    Henry Fonda For President Review

    Henry Fonda For President Review: More Than a Man, A Mirror to America

    825 Forest Road Review

    825 Forest Road Review: Cognetti’s Ambitious, Uneven Haunting

    Eric Larue Review

    Eric Larue Review: No Easy Answers in This Unsparing Drama

    The Heart Knows Review

    The Heart Knows Review: Searching for Sincerity in a Tale of Two Worlds

  • Game Reviews
    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

    To a T Review

    To a T Review: Finding Perfection in an Imperfect Shape

    Spray Paint Simulator Review

    Spray Paint Simulator Review: Coating the Town, One Careful Layer at a Time

    F1 25 Review

    F1 25 Review: A Stunning Drive, If You Have the Right Rig

    Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Review

    Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Review: Whip-Smart Mechanics and Pixel Charm

    Elden Ring Nightreign Review

    Elden Ring Nightreign Review: Condensed Chaos for Tarnished Veterans

    Scar-Lead Salvation Review

    Scar-Lead Salvation Review: An Anime Perspective on a Rogue-like Path

    Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 Review

    Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 Review: The Taranis’s Final, Heartfelt Song

    Death end re;Quest Code Z Review

    Death end re;Quest Code Z Review: A Perilous Loop of Progress

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    Michael Cera Jackie Chan

    Michael Cera Says Jackie Chan Mistook Him for a Contest Winner

    Finn Bennett

    Finn Bennett Joins Targaryen Court in HBO’s Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

    Elio

    Pixar’s “Elio” Sets June 20 Liftoff With New Directors at the Controls

    The Return

    Malta Lines Up “The Return” and “Compulsion” for Mediterrane Film Festival

    Alan Alda Loretta Swit

    Alda Hails Swit’s Legacy After Emmy-Winning Star’s Death

    Doctor Odyssey

    Disney Faces Harassment Suit From Doctor Odyssey Crew

    paramount

    California Senate Probes Paramount’s $15 M Offer to Trump

    Valerie Mahaffey

    Emmy Winner Valerie Mahaffey Dies at 71, Publicist Confirms

    Terrifier-4

    Damien Leone Pledges Epic Backstory Reveal in Terrifier 4

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    The Black Forest Murders Review

    The Black Forest Murders Review: Beyond Spectacle, Into the Grim Expanse

    Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving Review

    Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving Review: A Gentle Tale of Teachers and Teens

    Amityville: Where the Echo Lives Review

    Amityville: Where the Echo Lives Review – Charting Inner Turmoil in a Familiar Frame

    Gannibal Season 2 Review

    Gannibal Season 2 Review: Blood Legacy and Brutal Truths Unveiled

    Stick Season 1 Review

    Stick Season 1 Review: Owen Wilson Drives a Heartfelt, Flawed Dramedy

    Henry Fonda For President Review

    Henry Fonda For President Review: More Than a Man, A Mirror to America

    825 Forest Road Review

    825 Forest Road Review: Cognetti’s Ambitious, Uneven Haunting

    Eric Larue Review

    Eric Larue Review: No Easy Answers in This Unsparing Drama

    The Heart Knows Review

    The Heart Knows Review: Searching for Sincerity in a Tale of Two Worlds

  • Game Reviews
    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

    To a T Review

    To a T Review: Finding Perfection in an Imperfect Shape

    Spray Paint Simulator Review

    Spray Paint Simulator Review: Coating the Town, One Careful Layer at a Time

    F1 25 Review

    F1 25 Review: A Stunning Drive, If You Have the Right Rig

    Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Review

    Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Review: Whip-Smart Mechanics and Pixel Charm

    Elden Ring Nightreign Review

    Elden Ring Nightreign Review: Condensed Chaos for Tarnished Veterans

    Scar-Lead Salvation Review

    Scar-Lead Salvation Review: An Anime Perspective on a Rogue-like Path

    Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 Review

    Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 Review: The Taranis’s Final, Heartfelt Song

    Death end re;Quest Code Z Review

    Death end re;Quest Code Z Review: A Perilous Loop of Progress

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
GAZETTELY
No Result
View All Result
Good One Review

Ponyboi Review: Gallo Announces Themself as Talent to Watch

Suncoast Review: Life and Death in a Florida Hospice

Home Entertainment Movies

Good One Review: On Fathers, Daughters, and Letting Go

With Assured Direction and Graceful Cinematography, Donaldson Crafts an Affecting Coming-of-Age Tale

Arash Nahandian by Arash Nahandian
1 year ago
in Entertainment, Movies, Reviews
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on WhatsAppShare on Telegram

India Donaldson’s thoughtful coming-of-age drama “Good One” premiered to rave reviews at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, marking an assured directorial debut. The film follows 17-year-old Sam (Lily Collias) as she joins her father Chris (James Le Gros) and his best friend Matt (Danny McCarthy) on a weekend camping trip in the Catskills before leaving for college. What begins as a way to bond one last time slowly unravels, exposing generational divides and long-simmering tensions.

With its lush cinematography and vibrant natural settings, “Good One” uses its pristine wilderness backdrop as a mirror for its characters’ inner lives. Sam serves as the film’s anchor, her quiet grace belying a young woman on the cusp of an independence she’s not yet ready to embrace. Collias’ thoughtful lead performance simmers with an inner strength the teen herself hasn’t realized she possesses. As the men’s self-absorption increasingly encroaches on Sam’s own journey, the audience roots for the bright future ahead for this promising protagonist.

Donaldson’s astute direction explores universal themes of growing up and moving on through Sam’s eyes. Her love for her father contends with a growing awareness that she must forge her own path. Long days in the woods with Chris and Matt shed light on the fallibility of the adults she once viewed as infallible. Yet the film resists easy categorization; its characters are nuanced, their choices understandable even in moments of frustration. In the end, “Good One” heralds the arrival of a vibrant new directorial talent in Donaldson, and an exciting breakout star in Collias. Their keen artistic insights shape a film as lovely as it is emotionally resonant.

Standout Performances Anchor the Drama

The talented cast of “Good One” provides nuanced performances that give life to the film’s resonant coming-of-age story. In her breakout role as Sam, newcomer Lily Collias displays a rare onscreen honesty, effortlessly conveying the discomfort and quiet resolve of a young woman trapped between youth and adulthood. With minimal dialogue, Collias uses subtle facial expressions and body language to reveal Sam’s emerging strength and burgeoning independence.

As Sam’s father Chris, James Le Gros brings his trademark gravitas to the complex role of a loving yet flawed single dad unable to fully understand his daughter’s needs. Le Gros deftly captures both Chris’ good intentions and unconscious selfishness in scenes around the campfire, leaving the audience sympathetic to his struggles even when his actions fail Sam.

Providing an engaging counterpoint is Danny McCarthy as Chris’ buddy Matt, all bluster and bravado compared to his introspective friend. McCarthy gives dimension to the aging man-child, exposing Matt’s insecurities and complicated relationship with his own distant son. Their rapport feels natural and lived-in.

Together, the trio of performances generates an authentic human drama out of quiet moments in the woods. The gifted actors find truth even in silence, giving Donaldson’s understated script room to breathe. Their emotional honesty allows the audience to project their own experiences onto the story, connecting deeply with these deftly crafted characters.

“Explore the complex web of family, ideology, and the paths to radicalization in our Four Daughters review. Uncover the emotional and societal layers that drive individuals towards extreme beliefs through the lens of a Tunisian family’s heart-wrenching journey.”

A Poignant Coming-of-Age Tale

At its heart, “Good One” explores the intricacies of the father-daughter bond through Sam and Chris’ strained relationship. Their camping trip becomes a catalyst for change as Sam starts seeing her dad as a flawed human being instead of a protective father figure. Le Gros gives a nuanced turn as Chris, trying to recapture his little girl amidst his own midlife crisis. Yet Donaldson refuses to paint him as a villain. His actions reveal a dad struggling to adapt as Sam grows up.

Good One Review

This central relationship fuels the film’s poignant coming-of-age themes. Sam’s weekend in the woods marks a transitional point where she begins forging her own identity. Collias wonderfully conveys both the comforting familiarity of childhood and the growing pains of nascent adulthood in her thoughtful performance. Quiet scenes at the campfire and on secluded hiking trails demonstrate Sam’s dawning independence, no longer content to simply please her elders.

Donaldson subtly explores power dynamics between Sam and her male companions. They blithely dominate the conversational space, leaving little room for Sam’s self-expression. Yet she hesitates to challenge them, conditioned to be polite and compliant. The audience senses her discomfort as we watch her bite her tongue to keep the peace. It is a recognizable dynamic that resonates across generations and genders.

When long-simmering tensions finally reach a breaking point late in the film, Sam experiences a reckoning that frees her from past constraints. Donaldson gives her room to quietly process this transition, knowing words cannot encapsulate such a profound metamorphosis. Sam ends the film less willing to minimize herself for others’ comfort, regardless of their relationship.

These universal coming-of-age themes give “Good One” a timeless quality, anchored by Donaldson’s empathetic direction. She crafts an intimate human story from the film’s lush natural setting, celebrating the beauty and fragility of growing up.

Assured Direction and Technical Mastery

In her feature directorial debut, India Donaldson displays a veteran’s confidence, using understated visual storytelling to maximize the emotional impact of quiet moments. Patiently paced, the film trusts the audience to lean in and pick up on subtle cues from Sam as she navigates charged interactions with the men. Donaldson’s acute observations of body language reveal as much as dialogue.

Cinematographer Wilson Cameron makes excellent use of the film’s verdant Catskills setting. His contemplative nature shots echo the characters’ inner lives, like a stunning scene of sunlight dancing on rippling water as Sam reaches a crossroads. Cameron’s judicious close-ups focus our attention on Collias’ expressive face at key points.

Meanwhile, composer Celia Hollander’s gentle folk-inspired score enhances the film’s melancholy tone. The music swells during pivotal scenes but also knows when to subside to let the bubbling creek or rustling trees fill the soundscape.

This harmonious blend of directorial vision and technical artistry produces a film greater than the sum of its parts. Donaldson’s subtle storytelling choices complement the lyricism of the cinematography and music. Together, they shape a deeply affecting coming-of-age tale marked by emotional honesty. “Good One” announces an exciting new talent and cements Donaldson as a director to watch.

A Compelling Character Study

With her thoughtful direction and acute emotional insights, India Donaldson establishes herself as an exciting new talent with “Good One.” This haunting coming-of-age drama announces the arrival of a director with a unique voice and deep empathy for her characters. Donaldson’s sure-handed approach yields an introspective film that stays with you long after the credits roll.

Led by a stellar cast, especially breakout lead Lily Collias, “Good One” tells a timeless story about growing up and moving on. The film celebrates the beauty and fragility of the father-daughter bond even as it exposes the inevitable heartbreak when children start becoming adults. Its resonant themes and lush cinematography lend it a lyrical, melancholy tone.

Ultimately, Donaldson has crafted a compelling character study that feels true to life. The film’s honest exploration of family dynamics and personal growth heralds the emergence of a new cinematic storyteller to watch. Expect great things from Donaldson as her career unfolds. And prepare for Lily Collias to become your next indie darling after her quietly powerful star turn here. With “Good One,” they have reminded us of the magic that happens when you point a camera at real human interactions and let life unfold.

The Review

Good One

8 Score

With its poetic visuals and hushed emotional power, "Good One" heralds the arrival of an exciting new directorial talent in India Donaldson. This contemplative coming-of-age drama announces itself as a compelling character study from its very first frame. Sensitive direction and moving performances coalesce to create a film that resonates long after viewing.

PROS

  • Strong lead performance by Lily Collias
  • Assured directional debut for India Donaldson
  • Resonant coming-of-age themes
  • Beautiful cinematography of the wilderness
  • Strong character development and study
  • Nuanced exploration of family dynamics
  • Melancholy, introspective tone

CONS

  • Slow pacing at times
  • Plot feels slightly underdeveloped
  • Some secondary characters could be better utilized
  • Ambiguous ending may disappoint some

Review Breakdown

  • Overall 0
Tags: DramaFeaturedGood OneIndia DonaldsonLily ColliasSumaya BouhbalValentine Black
Previous Post

Ponyboi Review: Gallo Announces Themself as Talent to Watch

Next Post

Suncoast Review: Life and Death in a Florida Hospice

Try AI Movie Recommender

Gazettely AI Movie Recommender

This Week's Top Reads

  • The Librarians: The Next Chapter

    The Librarians: The Next Chapter Season 1 Review – Bridging Eras with Spellbinding Charm

    26 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mountainhead Review: Deepfakes and Deep Trouble

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boglands Review: Shadows and Whispers in the Irish Mist

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Death Valley Review: A Witty Welsh Wander into Cosy Crime

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Better Sister Season 1 Review: Not Quite a Killer Thriller

    8 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nine Puzzles Season 1 Review: Puzzle Pieces, Pain, and Police Procedurals

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • I Only Rest in the Storm Review: When Documentary Meets Fiction

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Must Read Articles

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review
Reviews Games

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

13 hours ago
Stick Season 1 Review
TV Shows

Stick Season 1 Review: Owen Wilson Drives a Heartfelt, Flawed Dramedy

14 hours ago
Destination X Review
Entertainment

Destination X Review: A Game of Veiled Realities

2 days ago
Earnhardt Review
Entertainment

Earnhardt Review: The Anatomy of a NASCAR Titan

2 days ago
The Ritual Review
Entertainment

The Ritual Review: An Unsettled Echo in a Somber Chamber

3 days ago
Loading poll ...
Coming Soon
Who is the best director in the horror thriller genre?

Gazettely is your go-to destination for all things gaming, movies, and TV. With fresh reviews, trending articles, and editor picks, we help you stay informed and entertained.

© 2021-2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

What’s Inside

  • Movie & TV Reviews
  • Game Reviews
  • Featured Articles
  • Latest News
  • Editorial Picks

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About US
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Review Guidelines

Follow Us

Facebook X-twitter Youtube Instagram
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movies
  • Entertainment News
  • Movie and TV Reviews
  • TV Shows
  • Game News
  • Game Reviews
  • Contact Us

© 2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

Go to mobile version