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Joe Gould's Secret

2000·Movie
1h 44min
58
DecentGoodWatch score

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Not streaming in any country yet.

Joe Gould's Secret fingerprint

Strong craft, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension4
  • Fast Pace2
  • Adrenaline1

Heart

Nostalgic and moving

  • Nostalgia9
  • Pathos8
  • Melancholy7

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay7
  • Satire & Parody4
  • Cringe Humor3

World

A real life story, history, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout performances, dialogue, and characters

  • Acting9
  • Dialogue Quality9
  • Character Depth9

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Editing7
  • Cinematography6
  • Music Composition5

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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You want fast pacing

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Around 1940, New Yorker staff writer Joe Mitchell meets Joe Gould, a Greenwich Village character who cadges meals, drinks, and contributions to the Joe Gould Fund and who is writing a voluminous Oral History of the World, a record of 20,000 conversations he's overheard. Mitchell is fascinated with this Harvard grad and writes a 1942 piece about him, "Professor Seagull," bringing Gould some celebrity and an invitation to join the Greenwich Village Ravens, a poetry club he's often crashed. Gould's touchy, querulous personality and his frequent dropping in on Mitchell for hours of chat lead to a breakup, but the two Joes stay in touch until Gould's death and Mitchell's unveiling of the secret.
Literary BiopicTragic Character StudyOld New York AtmosphereIntellectual MelancholyMasterful DialogueObsession and FraudPeriod DramaPsychological PortraitBittersweet Nostalgia

Crew

Directed by:
Written by:
Composed by:

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Joe Gould's Secret

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Joe Gould's Secret legally?

You can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Joe Gould's Secret worth watching?

58
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 59/100 (IMDb 6.5, Rotten Tomatoes 67%, and Metacritic 74). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Joe Gould's Secret rated?

Strong language

Content advisories: strong language.

How long is Joe Gould's Secret?

1 h 44 min

Joe Gould's Secret runs 1 h 44 min.

Is Joe Gould's Secret based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on Joe Gould's Secret?

Critics71
Audiences65

Yes. Critics average 71 and audiences 65 out of 100, so both groups see Joe Gould's Secret much the same way.

What language is Joe Gould's Secret in?

English

It was made in English.