Sep 18, 2024
The setting of India Donaldson's debut feature will look familiar to Vermonters — Good One was shot in the rocky, wooded landscape of New York's Hudson Valley. Hailed as a feminist coming-of-age story and nominated for awards at this year's Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival, the indie drama is playing at Merrill's Roxy Cinemas in Burlington and the Savoy Theater in Montpelier as of press time. The deal College-bound Sam (Lily Collias) takes a weekend hike in the Catskills with her dad, Chris (James Le Gros), and his longtime best friend, Matt (Danny McCarthy). Matt's teenage son was supposed to join them, but a recent, acrimonious divorce has left father and son at odds. Sam finds herself caught between the two older men, whose friendship is likewise strained. Matt, an actor whose lucrative run on a cop show has ended, is struggling in every way. He's forgotten his sleeping bag and gets regularly tipsy, eager to talk about his feelings more often than Chris can tolerate. Sam offers Matt a sympathetic ear, but his neediness makes her increasingly uncomfortable. Before the hike is over, their dynamic will come to a head — with consequences for Sam's strong bond with her dad. Will you like it? The phrase "good one" is loaded. It's what many people bemoan not finding on their dating odysseys. It's a compliment, sure, but often a backhanded one, implying that "good ones" are rare in certain demographics. When Matt calls Sam a "good one" — a good woman, a good daughter, a cooperative, non-"difficult" teen — the mixed emotions on Collias' face speak volumes. Sam is mortified, yet she can't deny that she's worked for the approval of her elders. While Matt wallows in his feelings like a moody kid, she trudges miles without complaint, finds subtle ways to mediate between him and her dad, whips up decent trail food, and finds hidden spots in which to change her tampons. Some viewers may find that last detail TMI, but it matters. We've all seen acclaimed auteur films in which a lissome, carefree teenage girl breathes life and hope back into a man in the throes of midlife crisis. (Woody Allen was the most prolific purveyor of this archetype but far from the only one.) What we've rarely seen in those movies is the girl's perspective, including the parts of her experience that aren't…
Respond, make new discussions, see other discussions and customize your news...

To add this website to your home screen:

1. Tap tutorialsPoint

2. Select 'Add to Home screen' or 'Install app'.

3. Follow the on-scrren instructions.

Feedback
FAQ
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service