All Good Things

Written by Jonathan Jacobs

“All Good Things” is not only a classic beginning to a centuries old expression/aphorism, it is also the title of a brilliant new film starring Ryan Gosling as David Banks and Kirsten Dunst as his wife, Katie. It is obvious from the incipiency that something is terribly wrong. David is sitting in a court room on trial for murder. At first, David’s testimony includes reflections of his inspired life as a much younger man. This brings us to a montage of family video shorts broadcast from David’s vivid recollections that are very revealing, if not intimate. Billed as both a love story and a murder mystery, All Good Things is superbly casted and creatively mystifying.

David is our narrator and primary source of information for understanding the series of events under investigation. The story begins in 1971, when David is called by his lady friend and future wife Katie to repair a leak underneath her kitchen sink. Unable to fix the problem, David is at least able to prevent a major flooding of the floor. What is surprising is that he fixed the leak wearing a full tuxedo (not the condom). We come to find out that David is presumably the heir to his father’s massive fortune. Feeling audacious and confident, David asks Katie to join him for a luxurious dinner party. The chemistry and curiosity between these two young love birds is palpable.

When the young pairing arrives, they are greeted by Sanford Marks (played by the dashing Frank Langella). Sanford is a business man, a visionary, and a demanding father. Feeling dissatisfied with his son’s apathy toward joining the family business (renting and leasing properties, as well as renovation), Sanford insults his son in front of his lovely date. At the sumptuous dinner that follows, we find out that Sanford’s goal is to tear down old hotels and tenement buildings in order to replace them with scintillating spiraling glass office buildings and other architectural wonders. Mr. Marks is not only a forward thinker; he is also a relentless business man. When introduced to Katie, Mr. Marks insists that she introduce herself to their distinguished guests using her full name. This is a sign of his rigid formality.

Defying his father’s wishes/demands, during the holidays, David proposes to Katie at her parents’ house; she seems overjoyed. It is only when Sanford plants a seed of doubt in his son’s mind that his suspicions germinate. Mr. Marks suggests that Katherine is too beautiful a woman to live in a rural setting without lavish surroundings. This causes David to have a change of heart that is expected, yet still surprising. Rather than continue trying to turn a profit with their foodstuffs store known as “All Good Things”, David sells the property and takes his young wife to Manhattan. The whippersnapper has opted to become a player in the family business.

David’s responsibilities are unpleasant, but necessary; he is a glorified bookkeeper. Sanford charges his son with collecting rent in shady midtown hotels and rental properties. These edifices are surrounded by pimps, prostitutes, massage parlors, and other houses of debauchery. David’s arrival captures the attention of the Mayor (David Margulies) and his overzealous lackey. Trouble is brewing in the air. Meanwhile, it appears that Sanford was on the money when he recommended his son upgrade his wife’s surroundings. Katie loves their new gothic apartment, so much so that they make love in their new surroundings in a fit of passion (ok; it is quite ordinary, but my depiction sounds better).

Throughout the movie, we are made aware of David’s peculiar psychological state. At times, he seems distant and emotionally fragile. Moreover, he is diffident around people and he indulges in bouts of schizophrenia. Katie may be somewhat hokey, but she is also quite aware of David’s discomfort and alarming behavior.

Soon thereafter, Katie pins her husband down at their new summer home for a discussion about having children. David is completely opposed to the idea; his insistence convinces his wife that he is suffering the psychological impact of his mother’s horrific suicide when he was only nine-years-old. Subsequently, Katie is accidentally impregnated, and David is infuriated. It is important to tempt readers by pointing out that Dunst appears stark naked several times during the film. We are offered a front row seat to view her unmentionables.

In a defining parallel, while Katie is headed to a gynecologist’s office for an abortion, David is called away to collect money from another slum apartment at his father’s behest. This accelerates David’s transformation into acting like a neurotic person. Remember folks, this film is a murder mystery. In order to cope with her anxiety and misery, Katie starts snorting cocaine. All Good Things has gone from a steady climb, toward the endgame, to an all out race for the finish line. David seems like a genuinely troubled man, almost a modern day Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde archetype.

All Good Things is a drama of the first order. Although I am not sold on Kirsten Dunst’s talents or on Ryan Gosling’s ability to elicit excitement in viewers, the script and Director Andrew Jarecki more than compensate for their deficiencies. Inviting Langella to play Sanford Marks has helped considerably toward adding gravitas, and a steady hand at the wheel never hurts when trying to set a tone or establish a dramatic mood. All Good Things will not make my list for the best films of 2010, but it is worth watching, and it does an admirable job of building suspense and intrigue. I usually look forward to Gosling’s films; he has often to be paired with actors that compliment his strengths, if not highlight them. A good show to be sure, but greatness is a whole other realm.