FILM REVIEW
GOODRICH
Rated R
110 Minutes
Released October 18th
Goodrich is an excellent movie that is simply a portrait of a man, and the people close to him, who endure the beauty and brightness of life amidst the frequent sudden pitfalls that materialize often when least expected. Vast emotional disappointments and devastation seem to be ubiquitous to living in the complex society we have created for ourselves today. This movie is a character study and social study of how we manage to try to keep steady on our mental feet and preserve our ability to love. It’s the story of how a close-knit group of people each deal with this challenge in their own way,
Michael Keaton is at his best in this film, and that’s saying a lot because he’s one of the greatest actors working today. His character, “Andy Goodrich,” hides his deepest emotions behind a Mona Lisa smile, taking every blow life deals him with an incredible stoicism while realizing slowly how far apart he has grown from those closest to him. He is a good man at heart, and that fact alone can underlie a very difficult course to chart in today’s chaotic world. Mila Kunis beautifully embodies her character, “Grace,” Goodrich’s daughter. Grace’s husband, played by Michael Urie, seems to be an afterthought until a big reveal scene establishes him as one of the most insightful people in the family.
When I learned that director Hallie Meyers-Shyer is only 37 years old, I wondered how she could have such a complete grasp of storytelling and cinema at such a young age for a director. Turns out she is the daughter of writer Nancy Meyers and filmmaker Charles Shyer and grew up playing roles in their films, cultivating an early grasp of cinema. In 2017 she wrote and directed her first film, Home Again. Of Goodrich, Meyers-Shyer says, “No words could possibly describe this labor of love or the joy we had making it. The people who made this movie made it with all we’ve got.” She specifically wrote the role of Goodrich for Keaton. She reported that if he had said no, “I would have buried it (the script) and myself in the backyard.”
Keaton may be best known for the title role in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), but he is a prolific, extraordinary actor who has graced the big and small screens since 1974. Keaton was born in Pennsylvania, studied speech for 2 years at Kent State, and moved to Pittsburgh to be a stand-up comedian. Unsuccessful at that choice, he became a cameraman at a TV station but felt that his place was really in front of the camera. His first acting gig was on several episodes of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Soon he left for LA and became the proverbial “starving actor” who eventually made it big. It is often said that your first experience as an artist establishes your style, and I can still feel “Mr. Rogers” vibes in Keaton.
Mila Kunis was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine. Her family moved to LA when she was a child, to escape anti-Semitism. Her childhood presented many formidable barriers. She enrolled in elementary school speaking very little English and she was also diagnosed with ADHD. Her father enrolled her in an acting class to help her communication skills, and this became her calling. Kunis established herself as “Jackie Burkhart” in That 70’s Show. She has an impressive TV and film resume, including Black Swan (2010) and Ted (2012).
Even though there is very little action, this movie will hold your attention all the way through. The momentum is in the minds of the characters and the dynamics of their relationships. It takes you through the full range of human emotion in a surprisingly subtle way. The movie is a product of the lifetimes of experience that the director and cast bring to it. I would expect to see Goodrich among the list of 2025 Oscar nominations.
Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com
