All Good ThingsMovie Reviews

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 57 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
17 Iffy for 17+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 88
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    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. Read full review

  • 75
    Boston Globe | Ty Burr

    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. Read full review

  • 75
    Philadelphia Inquirer | Steven Rea

    All Good Things is a "true crime" drama with speculative scenarios and a kind of deliberately murky aura. It's a strange, thrilling tale begrimed by bad memories, by bad deeds. Read full review

  • 75
    New York Post | Lou Lumenick

    Though the movie doesn't use real names and the press notes say it's "inspired" by the Durst case, it seems to follow many of the facts rather closely -- all the while mixing in not a little provocative speculation. Read full review

  • 75
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    The result is a potent and provocative movie that will keep you up nights. Read full review

  • 70
    The New York Times | Manohla Dargis

    Certainly the fictionalized brood in All Good Things is equal to the Friedmans in terms of dysfunction, and they're loaded. Read full review

  • 63
    ReelViews | James Berardinelli

    The film, although deeply flawed, is at times compelling, even if it seems as if a reel is missing. Read full review

  • 50
    Los Angeles Times | Betsy Sharkey

    The good thing about All Good Things - that would be Kirsten Dunst, for if there is one thing this strange and creepy film does well it is remind us of just what a talented actress she is. Read full review

  • 40
    Variety | Justin Chang

    The more the film implicates David, the more it distances itself and the viewer, playing out in the emotionally detached but sensationalistic, overripe manner of a tabloid freakshow. Read full review

  • 40
    Village Voice | Nick Pinkerton

    All Good Things patina of fictionalization has not prevented the cagey Durst Organization from threatening a lawsuit. They need not worry, though. The film succeeds only in indicting its authors. Read full review

View more reviews for All Good Things on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 17+ Depressing "true" story of violence and destroyed lives.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this downbeat drama -- which is based on the true story of a man involved in a disappearance and two deaths over the course of 30 years -- tells the tale of a destroyed marriage and two miserable lives. There's some violence and blood related to the murders, as well as ugly fights between the married couple. They kiss and seduce each other and have sex (though there's little nudity). Language is limited to a few uses of "f--k," but there's lots of drinking and drug use, including cigarettes, cocaine, and pot. Teens may be interested to see what stars Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst are up to, but this depressing, flat movie won't cause much of a stir.
  • Families can talk about the violence in the film. What has more impact: the things that are shown, or the ones that aren't? Which is more disturbing, the murders or the violence toward Katie?
  • The main characters tend to drown their troubles in drinking, smoking, and drugs. These activities never seem to get out of control, but does that make it all right? What would the consequences of this kind of behavior be in real life?
  • Could David have avoided all of his trouble if he had ignored his father and kept on living the life he dreamed of living?
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: The central couple makes all the wrong moves; they start out marrying for love, but then major life decisions drive a wedge between them. They grow violent toward one another and then grow apart. They rarely talk or work together try to solve these problems, and eventually their path leads to much darker places.
  • rolemodels true0 Positive role models: David gives up his dream to work for his father, and it costs him his happiness. He begins to act crazy and violent and alienates his wife, who wants to have a baby. David and Katie continue to spiral out of control, getting worse and worse, without ever taking action to solve their problems or work together. Katie eventually realizes her dream of going to medical school, but she does so partly to hide from her pain and anguish. Both characters tend to drown their troubles in alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence: Three (possible) murders are shown to varying degrees. Some happen totally off-screen, while one involves a gun and blood oozing from the back of the victim's head. Another victim is beaten to death but not shown. There are bloody clues pointing to the murders. Also occasional arguments and fits of rage; in one scene, the husband grabs his wife and drags her by the hair. She turns up with a black eye in another scene. Discussion of a past suicide.
  • sex false3 Sex: The married couple flirts, kisses, seduces each other, and has sex. Nudity is limited to a shower scene in which breasts are visible in silhouette.
  • language false3 Language: Infrequent use of "f--k" and "motherf----r." Also "a--hole."
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Not an issue
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false4 Drinking, drugs and smoking: The characters regularly smoke cigarettes and pot and snort coke. They also drink quite often in a social context, i.e. beer and wine at dinner or harder drinks at parties.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

All Good Things Movie Ratings + Reviews

Fans say

So-so 103 fan reviews

Critics say

So-so See all critic reviews

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