Movie Review: Joe Gould's Secret

Story: Can tour de force acting triumph over a small budget movie? No secret here - absolutely! This is one terrific film by co-writer, director and star Stanley Tucci (The Big Night). It is based on a true story which takes place in Greenwich Village in the late 40's, where we find Joe Gould, a quintessential New York character. Is he a genius, crazy or just a very smart panhandler? Claiming to be writing the oral history of the common man, he is discovered by Joe Mitchell, a writer for New Yorker magazine. He interviews, befriends and writes a piece on Gould for the magazine which makes him into a minor celebrity. The film is about friendship, madness, the fine line between creativity and insanity, social responsibility and philosophy. It is a slow paced, lingering film where we are invited to partake of a very special story.

Acting: Sir Ian Holm is nothing other than fabulous. He also appeared in Tucci's The Big Night and his 40 year career covers the gamut from Shakespeare to The Sweet Hereafter. What could easily have been an over the top performance is subtle, deep and filled with life. Stanley Tucci is wonderfully understated and generous. The rest of the cast, Patricia Clarkson , Hope Davis and Susan Sarandon are all terrific.

Pets: The sound of a cat behind a door.

Visual Art: Lots and lots of wonderful art (it is the Village in the 40's).

Soundtrack: perfect

Quirky Meter: 4

Tissue Usage: Tear welling

Oscar Worthy: Ian Holm merits note as does Tucci.

Length: 108 minutes (way under the 2 hour rule).

LOBO HOWLS: 8.5