Review of All Good Things (2010) by Gary B — 24 May 2011

- Andrew Jarecki delivers a bold first feature film with a stellar cast. He molds a mound of clay into what he wants us to see and only that. Taking his film at face value is the way he wants it, and it seems to work for some but not all (I think that's fair to say). It is notable that there is nothing flashy about the picture- no top notch cinematography, costume design, or anything like that. It really is a modest, basic tale of wealth and madness. What takes time to season is ultimately quite appetizing if you can wait for it to be served. In other words, to get the full effect, it is necessary to go the distance with the cast and see why even thought the film did not get much recognition, it was embraced by some of the top critics in the United States. Inspired by true events, All Good Things is told in a fashion that is both descriptive with time lines and feels as if it is well documented before it's unveiling.

Wealthy tycoon (Frank Langella) snares his oldest son (Ryan Gosling) into the shady family business. Reluctant at first, he eventually conforms (seemingly) into the lifestyle of luxury with his new wife, play by Kirsten Dunst. It's not the new lifestyle that is alarming to her though, it's her husband's increasingly erratic behavior towards children and family in general. What begins as emotionally bruising events, carries over into a new depth of sociopathic behavior and everyone is beginning to be at odds with Gosling. It is evident that the characters we have been watching have some deep rooted issues and the one we feel we do know a little bit about eventually begins to break as a result of her surroundings. One of the finest aspects of this story is the breakthrough of the last act where Gosling falls completely off the path we were following him on. It really is remarkable and shocking to see what he does in the last portion of this picture.

I won't pretend to adore what is not present or hide the shining bright spots in this film, it really rides on the performances. Not what I would call a fan of Kirsten Dunst, I am all praises for her performance in this story. She carries a load that requires some real substance and a particular strength. Guess, what? The chic from Spider Man fully supports the other half of this tale that is just as important as the other (crazy) half. Gosling brings his best efforts to the screen- he is a quiet and devilish character that wears a mask of humanity and conceals his inner demons with stark stamina. Where Dunst represents a carefree innocence, Gosling brings a cold determination to counteract it. That, I feel, is where the story gains its vital momentum. It is witnessing such balance of the two sided work of art. The unfortunate areas exist also, as the film lacks a certain amount of clarity in terms of motives and unseen action and that is a bit of a problem. I wanted more from the director and needed to see what these characters did off-screen more. Yet, this is not a total loss- it can be attributed to the style of presentation by Jarecki . The opposing forces of light and darkness, played by the creative leads, delicately demonstrates a fascinating study of an absorbing story (B).