Stanley Tucci is one of the most renowned character actors in modern Hollywood, but he is also known as an accomplished film director. Both of those talents can be observed in Tucci’s 2000 biopic Joe Gould’s Secret.
The film is based on the books by journalist Joseph Mitchell, who is considered to be among the finest non-fiction authors of mid 20th Century American literature. The plot begins in 1940s New York City where Mitchell (played by Tucci), who came there from American South, works as a writer for highly respected New Yorker magazine. His specialty are articles dedicated to the various persons from the margins of society, especially those living in bohemian neighbourhood of Greenwich Village. One of eccentrics that catches Mitchell’s attention is Joe Gould (played by Ian Holm), homeless man who takes donations for so-called “Joe Gould Fund” that is supposed to finance his life’s work. That project is An Oral History of Our Time, monumental book that is supposed to contain detailed conversations and profiles of every individual Gould met. Mitchell is intrigued with Gould when he discovers that he came from wealthy family, graduated from Harvard and became sort of minor celebrity, able to get money from famous artists and writers. Mitchell begins to see Gould as person that shares his own literary ambitions and decides to help him in his project.
Joe Gould’s Secret reunites Stanley Tucci with Ian Holm, highly respected British actor with whom he worked in his celebrated directorial debut Big Night four years earlier. Two great talents, however, are here involved in story based on relatively unknown chapter of history of American literature, which is subject that could spark interest only among proper connoisseurs. Another problem is the script by novelist Howard A. Rodman that lacks conventional plot and, perhaps too inspired by Mitchell’s writings, uses its structure and serves more like a character study. Acting is, on the other hand, more than satisfactory. Tucci is relatively quiet and subdued in comparison with hyperventilating Holm, who seems thrilled to play character so different from Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings. When secret of the main character gets revealed, most of the audience wouldn’t care much, but they are likely to appreciate fine acting and Tucci’s success in reconstructing 1940s New York despite small budget. Although a solid film, Joe Gould’s Secret has an appeal that is limited to relatively small segment of audience.
RATING: 5/10 (+)
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