Good One

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2:22

Good One

R

Released Aug 9, 2024

1h 30m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

103 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

In India Donaldson's insightful, piercing debut, 17-year-old Sam (Lily Collias) embarks on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her dad, Chris (James Le Gros) and his oldest friend, Matt (Danny McCarthy). As the two men quickly settle into a gently quarrelsome brotherly dynamic, airing long-held grievances, Sam, wise beyond her years, attempts to mediate. But when lines are crossed and Sam's trust is betrayed, tensions reach a fever pitch, as Sam struggles with her dad's emotional limitations and experiences the universal moment when the parental bond is tested. Selected in both Sundance and Cannes' Directors' Fortnight, Good One is an emotionally expansive work that probes the limits of familial trust, understanding, and ultimately, forgiveness.

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Critics Consensus

A beautifully acted depiction of being caught between a rock and a hard place, Good One confronts difficult emotions and yields a striking feature debut for writer-director India Donaldson.

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Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It's subtle; nothing is underlined. You can discover the movie as it goes along for yourself.

Aug 28, 2024

Full Review

Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

A low-key, superbly acted, very well-directed indie.

Aug 28, 2024

Full Review

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

AWFJ.org

A quiet yet powerful film about learning how you want to be in the world, Good One is an impressive calling card for both Donaldson and Collias herself.

Aug 26, 2024

Full Review

Carla Hay

Culture Mix

This well-acted 'slice of life' drama (about a 17-year-old girl on a camping trip with her father and his best friend) quietly depicts the loss of innocence when a child learns that adult authority figures will not always protect children.

Feb 15, 2025

Full Review

Diego Batlle

Otroscines.com

India Donaldson moves with a confidence and ease, with a capacity for observation, versatility and a multiplicity of nuances and subtleties that are rare in contemporary cinema...[Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/5

Feb 10, 2025

Full Review

Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

This is a pleasant independent film with all the virtues of an independent film, and few of the drawbacks. It is well crafted. The acting is solid. While the story is a bit thin, and the characters a bit under-developed, it works.

Rated: C+

Jan 25, 2025

Full Review

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Babsallday U

I dont know why this is a movie no real point taken! Hollywood bites these days. Im serious. This movie was a walk in the park although wonderful, absolutely not mind bending.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/03/24

Full Review

Brenda

It was very slow. And did not have an ending. I felt like I wasted time on this one.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

Full Review

David

it really good in it's own sense. hard to describe

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/30/24

Full Review

Ronald B

Well written dialogue, authentic relationships, beautiful nature photography.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

Full Review

Robert

Great story about the relationship between fathers and daughters. Very realistic situations, and the acting was top notch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/23/24

Full Review

Geoffrey S

Self indulgent waste of time. It even managed to make the beautiful Catskill region (my backyard) feel sad and unappealing. This is the type of movie that someone into cutting themselves would make.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/25

Full Review

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India Donaldson

Director

Lily Collias

Sam

James Le Gros

Chris

Danny McCarthy

Matt

Sumaya Bouhbal

Jessie

India Donaldson

Screenwriter

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Good One: Trailer 1

2:22

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Synopsis

In India Donaldson's insightful, piercing debut, 17-year-old Sam (Lily Collias) embarks on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her dad, Chris (James Le Gros) and his oldest friend, Matt (Danny McCarthy). As the two men quickly settle into a gently quarrelsome brotherly dynamic, airing long-held grievances, Sam, wise beyond her years, attempts to mediate. But when lines are crossed and Sam's trust is betrayed, tensions reach a fever pitch, as Sam struggles with her dad's emotional limitations and experiences the universal moment when the parental bond is tested. Selected in both Sundance and Cannes' Directors' Fortnight, Good One is an emotionally expansive work that probes the limits of familial trust, understanding, and ultimately, forgiveness.

Director: India Donaldson
Producer: Diana Irvine, Graham Mason, Wilson Cameron, India Donaldson
Screenwriter: India Donaldson
Distributor: Metrograph Pictures
Production Co: Smudge Films, International Pigeon Production, Baird Street Pictures, Tinygiant
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 9, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 30m

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