The Film
Usually when a film is pushed back, it's not a good sign. That's not the case with All Good Things. Despite a plagued production, this little-known film does have at least one good thing going for it: incredible casting.
Indie god Ryan Gosling plays David Marks, a handsome guy with a gorgeous wife (Kristen Dunst), and a seemingly perfect life. Of course, he also has a slew of mental problems, which slowly eek into his life as well as this film.
Marks is "loosely" based on the real-life Robert Durst, who was acquitted of murder back in 2003. The film seems to mirror Durst's life. Does director Andrew Jarecki (Capturing the Friedmans) know something we don't?
It's hard to say, but it certainly is interesting. It's also a tad bit confusing. See, the film starts out like a love story, only to follow the main character's downward spiral. Just try to keep an open mind. All Good Things isn't all good things, but it sure is captivating -- and you can thank the two main leads for that.
The Picture
All Good Things starts out insanely dark, giving us the idea that this is going to be one difficult-to-decipher movie. Within a few minutes, it opens up on a nice, detailed shot of an aged Ryan Gosling and a series of home movies. Overall, the 1.78:1 transfer has a film quality to it, with a bit of grain. However, there are some really nice colors here, especially in some of the lighter scenes. It's not even close to being a go-to demo disc, but it's a decent, enjoyable release which does take advantage of the high definition Blu-ray medium.
The Sound
The main attraction on this DTS-HD Master Audio track is the film's maniacal soundtrack, with its Psycho-esque musical score. That music does consume most of the surround action, but it never drowns out any of the dialogue, which sounds wonderful here. Besides the score, there are a few other items, like a tea kettle, trains, and a thunderstorm to keep you on the edge of that seat. Overall, it's a pretty immersive (and creepy) experience.
The Extras
Forget Gosling and Dunst. The real Robert Durst actually pulls up a chair (we assume) and sits down to deliver one of the two commentaries for this release. He doesn't admit anything or drop any bombshells. However, the fact that the guy even shows up makes this worth a listen.
Despite having a low profile, this release comes packing a nice collection of extras. The two other notable pieces are a making-of featurette titled "All Good Things: Truth in Fiction" and "Back in Time: Researching the Original Story." The latter is really riveting, with director Andrew Jarecki talking with everyone who's anyone associated to the Durst case.
Final Thoughts
All Good Things is not a perfect movie. In fact, it's sort of a confusing movie. However, it's also bizarre and entertaining. Ryan Gosling turns in yet another compelling performance. That alone is worth the cost of a rental. However, if Redbox, Netflix or your other chain of choice doesn't throw in the special features, which includes the commentary, you may want to satisfy some morbid curiosity and add this to your collection.
Product Details
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