Good One

The anticipated twist never materialized. The film attempts to blend the tranquility of nature with a forced tension, relying on the setup of a group of men and a young woman isolated in the woods. This approach feels contrived and detracts from what could have been a great movie about a father and daughter learning to adjust with adulthood.

The film presents a viewpoint suggesting that men may have unfavorable traits, while also proposing that women are remarkable with a level of intelligence that may be considered exceptional. We only are introduced to 2 women and about 10 men throughout the film. All 10 coming across as arrogant and capable of anything and the two women as being introverted and rational. This alone sets a stage for the message men=bad and women=good. In my view, the last 20 minutes of the film unequivocally prove the opposite.

The acting was superb across the board, and the mixing, editing, and overall production were done well.

This is a movie worth seeing without being unforgettable. The lead actress portraits her role excellently and the story has a nice reflective pace. There are some attempts to give depth to the other two characters, the dad and his friend, however despite their efforts to sound deep and complex, their interactions end up being lame and basic, due to their limited mindsets and stereotypical 'manly' existential struggles that do not show a glimpse of real self-awareness.

To all the reviews disliking the movie because it's 'too feminist' or negatively biased towards men, as a woman I would like to express that if you were one, you'd be very familiar with these dynamics since an even much earlier age than 17yo, no matter where/how you grew up. You'd be shocked to learn how often these weird interactions happen to all girls and women in the most random contexts, and from people you would never expect. I'm not saying all men are like this thankfully, but it's still too many. I hope this movie stimulates a real reflection on the normalisation of these dynamics in women's experiences.

Watched this at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Wow, 2024 Sundance really had lots of good movies this year because "Good One" really was one of my favorites from the festival. Filmmaker India Donaldson creates a strong debut project with good writing on the themes of generational differences, beautiful camerawork and good performances from the cast members.

Donaldson really captures the essence of nature landscapes, hiking, and conversations between characters and life. The atmosphere, camerawork, and sound designs are relaxing and many of the dialogue moments felt nature and realistic. All of the performances are good and Lily Collias was amazing in her first performance.

This movie really is like a good ASMR or vibe story like something made from Kelly Reichardt. Overall good movie.

India Donaldson makes a smooth, clever, and captivating indie film debut that I thoroughly enjoyed. In just 90 minutes, she weaves a story about three characters that seems straightforward at first glance, but it's so sharp and engaging that you might not catch the deeper layers unfolding beneath the surface.

Sam (Lily Collias) is a sensible seventeen-year-old gearing up for a camping trip with her dad, his best friend, and his friend's son, who's around her age. When a last-minute argument causes the son to bail, Sam ends up alone with the two older guys on their wilderness adventure in upstate New York. As a grounded young woman on the brink of adulthood, she takes the good-natured teasing from the men in stride, but as the trip goes on, the dynamics shift, revealing more about who these men really are.

Though the two men don't often check in on Sam's feelings, they seem decent enough. Chris has always supported his daughter's queer identity, and she keeps in touch with her girlfriend whenever she can get a signal. Matt tells Sam she's wise beyond her years, calling her a rare "good one" compared to other reckless teens.

Scene by scene, Donaldson skillfully reveals the underlying dynamics, aided by the remarkable performance of Collias. For such a young actress, she brings incredible depth to Sam. As the relationships evolve, her introspection shines through, often conveyed more through her gestures and body language than through dialogue, showcasing a level of confidence and skill that's impressive for her age.

A quiet yet powerful film!

Good one dad... Not... I liked the subtlety of the facial expressions, the many close-ups, the hints, the looks. When will we be able to stop tiptoeing around men's fragile egos? It's not like they return the favour or care whatever we feel. We're just being emotional or crazy.

This deserves more recognition. It's a precious little gem. I'm sure it's not everybody's cup of tea but I think most women will appreciate what it's trying to say.

I'm starting to feel I might be blessed for not spending that much time with my dad as a kid, if at all. I would have hated being around all this. Although I've witnessed plenty of butthurt behaviour at family gatherings. Always triggered by alcohol of course. Brings out the worst in people.