All You Need

A quote from this movie which is a surprise; when Kellie Martin says this, it reflects the growth and maturity of her character, and the choices she eventually makes within the family dynamic.

This movie centers around the family; three adult sisters who each respond differently to life's problems. I loved the fact that the story was not trite, nor was it a "knock-down, drag out" negative movie about dysfunctional families on Christmas; (If you want to see imbeciles throwing a turkey at someone; that scene has been done to death.....the movie with Holly Hunter, ""Home for the Holidays"", for example.)

Kellie Martin is excellent, as the independent, stronger sibling. Janet Carroll skillfully portrays the alcoholic mother, and is quite memorable in these type of roles. The issues of divorce, jealousy, and Al-Anon are addressed in a realistic, and helpful manner; I think the writer and director of this movie did an excellent job.

Rent or buy this movie for the holidays....it is affirming; without being banal or superfluous, like most movies about family problems.

I saw a screening of "All You Need" at the 2001 Savannah Film and Video Festival at which this film won the Best Feature Award. This movie takes what could viewed as a somewhat trite subject, topic, and setting and re-invents them. The screenplay is entertaining and engaging, I never got bored. The direction is crisp and camera placement nice. Perhaps the most outstanding aspect of this film is the performance of Janet Carol as the mother. She pours her heart in a gut-wrenching and at times dispicable character, yet she manages to wrestle sympathy from the viewer at the same time. I had a chance to talk with the producer and was told that this film will receive a much deserved theatrical release.

Kellie Martin is adorable in this nicely paced movie. It should actually get very good exposure because I read it was recently picked up by Lifetime as a network premiere. I really got pulled into the movie and enjoyed the characters very much.

It's not the most original film ever written or produced, but it is an interesting story of a young woman who is learning to make her own decisions. Kellie's character, Beth, has always done what's expected of her. In this movie, Beth has to live her own life for a change. Kellie Martin is sincere and honest and she looks great. The rest of the cast is fine, too. The film might have done better as a Lifetime movie or something similar... more people would have seen it that way. I hope to see more work by Kellie Martin and Randy Ser in the future.

All You Need is the story of Beth Sabistan, best described as a woman in search of her 'self'. It sends the message that, no matter what your family or personal circumstances may be, YOU are, in fact, all you need to be happy and fulfilled in life.

Though the film is adequately written and directed, its most distinguishing features are the performances of several of the actors. Kellie Martin does quite a respectable job of portraying Beth Sabistan, a young woman who discovers, through the trials and tribulations of her family, that she alone controls her destiny. I found her performance to be quite real and empathetic. Robert Pine as Earl Sabistan, Beth's somewhat bumbling though lovable father, is a treat. He brings to this rather bland character a certain 'spice', though to find out just which one, you'll have to see the film for yourself... He also manages to make Earl a three-dimensional person, though the character seems to have been written as nothing more than a foil.

Far and away, the best performance of this film comes from Janet Carroll as Jane Sabistan, Beth's manipulative, sometimes despicable, yet thoroughly sympathetic alcoholic mother. Janet's ability to bring this minor, yet pivotal character to vivid life is nothing short of fabulous! She absolutely steals the show. One of her most moving scenes is one in which we never see her at all. We simply hear her voice. But in that voice, in that brief few seconds is an expression of thirty or forty years of repressed frustration, anger, and passion that rips at your very soul.

Perhaps the best sequence in the entire film comes near the end, as we experience the absolute terror Jane feels as her daughters try to confront her alcoholism head on. Janet's portrayal of this intensely emotional moment is so visceral I found myself shaking and short of breath one moment, and in tears, feeling abject pity the next. I was definitely on the edge of my seat, hoping for all hope that Jane would triumph. The following scene was a bit of a let down, but was, unfortunately, rather realistic.

If you can find no other reason to see this film, go simply for the thrill of experiencing the kind of performance that comes once in a blue moon. Though Jane's appearances are short and segmented, Janet Carroll brings an intensity of emotion, and subtlety of innuendo to this rather pathetic character that makes those short moments worthwhile. Again I say, Janet absolutely steals the show.