All We Had

How many times have I seen the formula for this film? Answer: Too many times.

An alcoholic woman goes on the run with her bratty but more responsible teenage daughter in a crappy car. Along the way they get involved in escapades involving slimy boyfriends, petty shoplifting and a transsexual waitress. The mother's currency of choice is sex, and she utilises it relentlessly to try and pay for her motor repairs, keep her new job and house etc. while her petulant child just mopes around and complains. A likable pair, they ain't.

A shaggy dog story at heart with a few easily navigable pitfalls along the way, the movie struggles to hold your attention during it's far too drawn-out 100 minute runtime, finally even switching the personalities of the main duo near the end to create some artificial tension. This is done with absolutely no foreshadowing or fanfare, proving that the director Katie Holmes (who drove Tom Cruise to jump onto Oprah's sofa. As you do) cares a lot more about the predictable banalities of the plot than anything approaching character development.

I'm sure there are much better films of this ilk about. What are they? No idea. How's about you do your own homework, lazy? 5/10

Although general rating on IMDb was 5.8/10 when I wrote this review, however I have rated this movie 7/10, and could have given 8/10 or even 9/10 if there was no mini goofs.

The movie caught me as of the first few scenes, I love movies which expose the humanitarian aspects of the story, and I found what I really love in "All We Had".

The plot is pretty intricate, nevertheless the smooth flow of events was never affected. I loved this movie!

Katie Holmes directional debut film. Adapted from the novel of the same name. I really had not planned to love it. I thought it was another passing-by film in my life. Surprisingly, it was so much better. I simply loved it. Because anything about life struggle really intrigues me. Especially the struggles of the aging people, women, children themes.

This was about a mother and her teenage daughter. After escaping from her latest boyfriend, they decide to hit the road, travelling randomly. That reminded me 'The Glass Castle'. Their road adventure came to an end at some point, then set a tone similar to 'Safe Haven'. So they end up in a diner. Their lives begin to take shape around it. With so many turns, where the remaining narration heads were told by deciding their fate.

For some people, it was a drama where nothing much happens. But I felt every moment. The life does not just change like turning a coin to the other side. That's the detail, especially the relationship with others were nicely built. The whole story was narrated from the kid's perspective, like how she saw her mother struggling with boyfriends, alcohol and finally finding their own place to call home to lead a normal life.

It was almost a sentimental film. They should have created a more melodic track or borrowed one from the outside for it, because it deserves one. That would have set a tone for the film. It was just like another 'Infinitely Polar Bear', except it was mother-daughter thing. I think families would love such film. This really says that Katie Holmes has potential to be a great director. She also jointly produced it. Believe me. It is a totally underrated film. All I say is, it's a must see. If you listen to the haters, then you're missing out something wonderful!

8.5/10

A Huge Slice of "Down and Out" Life is what the Directorial Debut of Actress Katie Holmes (who also stars) serves to Enquiring Minds and the Result is an Underrated, Heavily Clichéd, but ultimately Watchable Actor's Showcase.

The Actor's bring to Life some Low-Life but Likable Characters Coalescing around a Struggling Small Town Diner. The Diner is an Island on a Sea that is Experiencing a "Perfect Storm" of Personal, Cultural, and Societal Devastation.

Kathryn Reis is "Sally" the "Sister Looking" Daughter to a Mom (Katie Holmes), a Product of a "Child Services" Upbringing that was given No Tools or Education on the Subject of "Momhood".

Running Scared the Duo Travel from Town to Town Living (barely) on Sheer Survival Skills and Luck. But once Stranded at the Diner and Forced to "Land" for some Repairs (to their car and themselves), They Encounter Counter Intuitive Folks who are Kind and Compassionate.

Richard Kind as "Tiny" the Diner Owner, Eve Lindley (almost steals the show) as Transgender "Peter Pam", get it, and Luke Wilson as a Potential "Knight" to the Rescue, are all Superb in this Drama about the Hopes and Dreams of "Little People" and the Obstacles Obstructing an Easy Path from the "Storm" of Life".

But there are "Lifelines" and "Lifeboats" along the way and the Two may, Perhaps, find a Comforting Port, despite the odds, if They keep Paddling in the Same Direction, Together.

Katie Holmes, as Rita, and Stefania Owen, as Ruthie, are both excellent in their starring roles here as mother and daughter respectively. with Holmes making her feature film directorial debut as well. This is a dark and gritty drama, at times difficult to watch, as Rita proves to be just an awful mother in so many ways, as she drags Ruthie from town to town, ending one bad relationship with a man only to move onto the next one. Their odyssey comes to at least a temporary halt when Rita's car breaks down and they're forced to establish some roots in a town along the way.

There's really a top notch cast here with Luke Wilson, Richard Kind, Eve Lindley, and Siobhan Fallon all enhancing the film in supporting roles. To note, there's raw and explicit language throughout the movie and some suggestive sexual scenes as well.

Overall, one's rating of this film may hinge on how much the viewer can accept a mother's actions and behavior as part of a dramatic storyline and put one's "judgmental hats" aside. For me, the strong acting, the intensity of the plot elements, and finally the uplifting final parts of the movie made it a fairly decent indie watch.