Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Donna Tartt The Goldfinch tells the story of Theodore Decker as a teenager and an adult. At the age of 13 whilst visiting an art museum his mother is killed in a terrorist explosion. In the wreckage Theodore has a dazed interaction with a fellow victim that leads him to an antiques store, friendships and a career. But the painting that he was looking at when the explosion happened haunts him for the rest of his life.

The Goldfinch was clearly planned to be a prestige award winning picture. It features acting performances from Nicole Kidman, Jefferey Wright, Sarah Paulson and Ansel Elgort, a script from Peter Straughan (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), cinematography from Roger Deakins and is directed by John Crowley (Brooklyn). It looks absolutely stunning and has a running time of 149 minutes. But unfortunately the film amounts to little. I came out of it wondering what the actual purpose of the story was. The underlying message still feels elusive. The overwhelming feeling that the plot hinges on far too many coincidences would suggest that fate is an element and that art is immortal and impactful. The other factor that hinders it is that none of our characters are particularly sympathetic or likeable. Theodore played by Oakes Fegley as a boy and Elgort as a man feels a little like a blank page. But by the end of the film I never felt like that page had turned into a story.

The plot is told by crossing back and forth between a young and old Theodore. And there are some interesting vignettes. When his deadbeat father (Luke Wilson) and girlfriend (Sarah Paulson) turn up to look after him we get to see a much more interesting moment in his life. But the opening is dreadfully slow and even the use of two Radiohead songs in the soundtrack (back to back no less) could not save it for me.

The sort of film that might inspire you more to read the award winning novel it is based on to see what the fuss is about rather than inspiring further viewings of the film.