Written and directed by India Donaldson, during a weekend backpacking trip in the Catskills, 17-year-old Sam navigates the clash of egos between her father and his oldest friend. Starring: Lily Collias, James Le Gros, Danny McCarthy and Sumaya Bouhbal.
While there have been many fantastic examples over the years, having a lead teenage character who is genuinely interesting and compelling, is definitely not a given. There are still a lot who feel vapid, irritating or overtly modernized, but India Donaldson avoids all of that with Sam (Lily Collias) and gives Good One a strong, enthralling, layered and sweet young woman to lead the way. With this character Donaldson creates a heart to the film which is wholesome but in a much more modern fashion. It reflects the attitude of having an open mind, being sensitive, thoughtful and selfless. Putting that into a teen package convincingly isn’t always easy but Lily Collias did a great job encompassing all of those qualities.
Part of the strength to Good One is what it’s saying when it isn’t saying anything, it’s filled with quiet, reflective moments which mostly revolve around Sam. Collias translates those moments with her performance in an endearing and engaging way. She captures the exasperation, the frustrations, the awkwardness and the generation gap. Especially when it comes to the importance of listening and recognising inappropriate behaviour. The maturity which Collias brings to Sam is particularly exceptional, it’s a big part of the draw to her character, that she can balance the classic teen feel with an emotional awareness beyond her years.
James Le Gros and Danny McCarthy then provide the conflict really well in an understated manner, both with Sam and between themselves. One of the interesting facets is the digs aimed at McCarthy’s Matt that Le Gros’ Chris peppers in conversations throughout Good One. They’re never subtle, always tainted with disapproval or a patronizing tone and McCarthy’s insecure and vulnerable responses are captivating to watch. The two present two disillusioned men in very different ways, Le Gros has a slightly aloof quality with some added denial while McCarthy has a broken, self-destructive and pessimistic persona.
All of that is set to an excellent backdrop with the utterly natural setting which is captured in such an aesthetically pleasing way. The direction builds a truly strong presence while the cinematography (by Wilson Cameron) adds a compelling texture which pairs well with the mix of wholesomeness and emotional issues. They really make the most of those natural colours to build something that has a touch of nostalgia, hinting at cinema of the past without taking it out of the present. There’s a huge sincerity to it, everything has a certain pensive quality which allows the emotions to be underplayed. They can linger beneath the surface rather than having to be out in the open.
Good One is a strong debut feature from India Donaldson that cleverly plays its hand to say a lot more even when it says nothing at all. Despite taking place in the vastness of the Catskills, it holds onto a compelling intimacy because it’s so well contained and shot in such a thoughtful manner. Lily Collias gives an outstanding performance as one of the best teen characters created in recent years. It’s understated yet complicated, delving into all the things that can seem small but have deeper roots.
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