Posted on September 13, 2019 at 11:50 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
Here’s something spooky for Friday the 13th: reviews of the movie adaptation of a highly acclaimed book.
Millions of readers loved Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch — including the members of the Pulitzer Prize committee, which honored the novel in 2013 — and any of them holding their breath over the movie adaptation were likely right to do so.
The film, which was released today, has netted some generally dismal reviews.
Rolling Stone gave it a single star, saying: “The only achievement in transferring Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch from page to screen is that it’s a botch job for the ages.”
Rotten Tomatoes is currently reporting just 26% of reviews for it are positive, thanks in part to the Los Angeles Times.
Its reviewer noted that an eight-hundred-page book was going to be difficult to adapt into a movie and acknowledged that while “the result is not flawless, this a polished, impressive attempt that pays off in the end.”
In the middle ground was Variety, which described the film as “faithful in a literal way” but as having lost the essence of the book in the process.
If it's on your weekend to-watch list, let us know your thoughts!
Categories: Today in Books