All Good Things
The wealthy heir to a prominent real-estate magnate becomes caught up in a high-profile murder investigation in this thriller inspired by the real-life case of Robert Durst, who was suspected of murdering his wife, Kathie, after she vanished without a trace in 1982. Warned by his father (Frank Langella) that the common girl (Kirsten Dunst) he loves will never be accepted into high society, the young scion (Ryan Gosling) throws caution to the wind and marries her regardless. Later, when the girl disappears and politics enter the picture, a suspicious series of deaths leave a haunted cop convinced that the truth is closer than anyone realizes. Philip Baker Hall and Jeffrey Dean Morgan star in this period mystery written by Marc Smerling and Marcus Hinchey, and directed by Andrew Jarecki (Capturing the Friedmans).
Director: Andrew Jarecki
Starring: Ryan Gosling,Kirsten Dunst, Frank Langella, Lily Rabe, Philip Baker Hall
The key to the film is in the character of David. One can imagine a scenario in which an overbearing father drives the son to rebellion, but what happens here is more complex and sinister.
The result is a potent and provocative movie that will keep you up nights.
Jarecki's not remotely in Scorsese's league yet, but he knows New York and he has seen the dark soul of man. Maybe next time he won't blink.
Certainly the fictionalized brood in All Good Things is equal to the Friedmans in terms of dysfunction, and they're loaded.
All Good Things is creepy and weird and sad, and little else.
Performance in a Feature Film
Prism Awards (2011)
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