Good One

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.

From the trailer alone did it feel like a much deeper dialogue is taking place? You need to see this film.

In sight and sound, plot and characterization, this is subtle as a stream. Natural as a stream. Gentle as a stream. And as deep as a stream that somehow ends in an ocean. Or on the top of the mountain.

Obviously this young woman has been a people-pleaser (thus the ironic "good one"), but it's much more interesting than that, especially for someone her age. She is growing. Or to be more accurate, she has begun to consciously experiment with qualities like compassion and courage. If we don't grasp this self-exploration, some of her actions will seem puzzling or naively inconsistent.

Does the film suggest where this self-awareness comes from? Certainly not her father. Perhaps through the loving relationship with her girlfriend. One of many reasons to see this film a second time.

Coauthor Andreea G. Petruse.

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!

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.