Thursday, Sep. 29, 2011

All Good Things

Photo Credit: James Hamilton

 

Ryan Gosling has done everything in his power to not be tethered to the sappy romance of his break-out role in “The Notebook.” He’s played a recluse in “Lars and the Real Girl,” a riveting love story involving a sex doll. In the ubur-depressing “Blue Valentine,” he’s a broken man trying to make sense of a fractured marriage. In this film, he’s a psychotic trust fund baby. The true story this movie is based on has been examined on news specials run by CBS and truTV as well as an episode of “Cold Case.” The film spans 30 years of a twisted oedipal complex, encompassing murder, strange relationships, cross dressing and the abuses of wealth. Kirsten Dunst translates her usually quirky performances into a nice shift into drama. But Gosling is a powerhouse once again and even when the script gets predictable, Gosling doesn’t, in the portrayal of a man aging 30 years in two hours. Worth a watch.