But there's a problem. Film veteran Holm impressively stays up to the task of keeping the aging Gould fresh with life throughout the drama. On the other hand, the reserved and bashful Mitchell, who becomes Gould's biographer after learning of the old man's ambitions of becoming a great writer, predictably spends much of his time chasing Gould around and apologizing for his eccentric subject's rudeness. The dramatic question at hand over the course of the film is whether the passive Mitchell will ever understand that Gould's energetic, almost psychotic, exterior is a philosophy in itself, and not a distraction to hide the philosophy underneath. Its weak points, unfortunately, are the movie's actual watchability and entertainment value.
Scenes drag on.
The movie itself ends up outstaying its welcome. The on-screen bond between the two leads remains dry and emotionless. And, as exciting as Holm's portrayal is, the action is that much more boring when he's not on-screen. Furthermore, there are only two characters in the entire movie that are fleshed out and given any sort of life, and one of them is an ordinary, polite bore. Such a setup does not leave much room for enjoyment, especially when the film is shot in such a straightforward and conventional manner.