Plot: What’s it about?
Joe Mitchell (Stanley Tucci) is a veteran and skilled writer for The New Yorker, where he pens articles on various offbeat characters he runs into around town. In New York, there is a wealth of unusual people and Mitchell likes to find them and make a record of what they do or have to say about their passions. He has met and talked with a number of offbeat folks in his career, but he is about to run into the one that will take the all time cake. That man is Joe Gould (Ian Holm), a man whom Mitchell meets in Greenwich and is instantly taken with. Gould is a brilliant and clever man to be sure, but he also displays some traits that could be mistaken for mental illness, including the habit of ranting and raving over small issues. Mitchell wants to learn as much about Gould as he can and as such, spends a lot of time in conversations with him, which is when he learns of Gould’s book in progress. He has been compiling a record of all the conversations he has overheard, which amount to a literal library in and of itself. The two have a long and sometimes rocky relationship, but even to the end of Gould’s life, Mitchell was in contact in shape or form. After Gould passes away, Mitchell decides to reveal his secret after all the time Gould kept it inside.
This movie missed the major theaters around me, but I did manage to catch a showing at a small movie house before it left town. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but had some good reviews so I went into it with an open mind. I was very pleased with this movie and though the reviews were right, they didn’t do this film justice in the least. If you need special effects and stunts to like a movie though, Joe Gould’s Secret just isn’t a film you should check out. A very realistic and natural movie, this film relies on two elements to win over the audiences, with those elements being writing and acting. The storyline might seem a little dull or uneventful, but the manner in which the events unfold is superb and the characters are well done from start to finish. The complex, realistic feel of the characters and environment is what makes this one seem so fresh and brisk at times, though the pace is slower than most modern films to be sure. Add in a series of terrific performances that bring those roles to life, and you’ve got a solid dialogue driven movie. If you’re looking for a well written and well acted film, Joe Gould’s Secret would make a fine choice.
With a dialogue driven film like this one, where action is minimal and visuals are natural, you need gifted actors to make sure the audience remains attentive. And thankfully, Joe Gould’s Secret has two talented actors and both of them turn in excellent performances in this film. Ian Holm is known for his powerful, yet subtle turns and this one proves to be no exception. He seems calm and reserved, yet the character is so well defined by his performance, it sometimes amazes me. Holm never goes too far into over emotion or introversion, always keeping that fine line intact and at just the right point. Yes, his character is an emotional one, but Holm makes sure he never becomes a cartoon-like person. I am not sure that this is Holm’s finest work as of yet, but he is still tremendous and more than earns his paycheck. Holm can also be seen in such films as The Fifth Element, The Sweet Hereafter, The Madness Of King George, and eXistenZ. Also in a prominent role is Stanley Tucci (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Impostors), who also gives a warm and believable performance. The cast also includes Susan Sarandon (Anywhere But Here, Thelma & Louise), Hope Davis (Arlington Road, Mumford), and Patricia Clarkson (Jumanji, The Green Mile).
Video: How does it look?
Joe Gould’s Secret is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a very sharp and clean transfer, which surprised me since this is a rather low budget film overall. I expected some grain and debris, but both were minimal in this case and the transfer turns out in splendid form. The colors remain neutral for the most part as the should, but some more rich tones emerge when they need to. I also found no problems with the flesh tones, which look normal and warm at all times. Contrast is in good form as well, no visible detail loss and black levels are sharp and well balanced. This is a wonderful transfer, especially for such a low profile and low budget motion picture.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc contains dual Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks and for this review, I chose the 5.1 option. As this film is dialogue driven, you won’t find much surround use and such, but this mix replicates the audio just as it should be done. I will say that the musical score comes across well and sounds rich, which is good because it fits in well with the film’s tone. Also, some minor subtle surround can be heard now and again, but this is minimal and infrequent. This is meant to be a subtle film in terms of audio and as such, this track focuses on the vocals. The dialogue sounds clear and crisp, with no problems in the least to report in this area. This disc also includes English subtitles, should you need them.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc houses some talent files, the film’s theatrical trailer, and a brief behind the scenes featurette. The featurette runs about two minutes and contains a couple brief interviews with Holm and Tucci.
