After seeing The Jinx, a real crime documentary series about Robert Durst, I wished there would be more episodes. Especially with the developments in the case at the end of the show. It wouldn’t surprise me if there will be more in the future, but at the moment it seems that’s it. The show was made after director Andrew Jarecki made All Good Things, a movie which was inspired by/based on the disappearance of Robert Durst’s wife and the various murders he seemed to be linked to.
Ryan Gosling plays Durst, who is called David Marks in this film. The courtcase against him is the returning feature of the movie, in which his story is told in flashbacks. Subjects like the relationship with his father are shown, how he met his wife, how their relationship worked, how she disappeared and other important moments from his life. The thing which stands out with all of it, especially after seeing The Jinx, is that Jarecki has followed the facts (withe a few exceptions pretty closely). If you are familiar with the case this doest make for an exciting story (as you know what is going to happen), but still it’s interesting to see how a true story is transformed into a film format.
Gosling plays his role in a reserved way and shows Marks as a quiet man with a dark past and unpredictable behaviour. The meddling by his father with his relationship is having an effect on him and when his wife, played well by Kirsten Dunst, doesn’t always do what he wants Gosling shows the effect on him in a great way. Jarecki is able to give a possible explanation of her disappearance, which was also shown in The Jinx. If you are unfamiliar with the case than I would advise you to watch this and then follow it up with The Jinx as it is a good introduction. It shows that reality can sometimes be stranger than fiction.
I surprisingly liked this movie, but I may be biased since I love Gosling and especially Dunst. I thought Dunst gave such a great performance, but this film kind of bombed with viewers :\
Yeah, it did, but I guess with all the attention earlier this year about the real case it might have found a new audience (it is the reason I actually watched it ;))
Saw this when it came out and wasn’t too impressed. The only thing I remember now is how awful Ryan Gosling looked in drag! haha
I somehow forgotten that. I watched it because of the Durst case, which made me curious.
All Good Things feels underappreciated. Was in my top 15 of 2010. I was glued to the screen the whole time and didn’t know what would happen next. I’m kinda glad I didn’t see The Jinx first then, if you say it takes some of the excitement away. Better to watch The Jinx afterwards.