The Only One movie review

MOVIE TITLE: The Only One

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RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 44 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

On the brink of accepting a life of independence and wanderlust, a young woman visits an old flame on his vineyard in France and takes one last shot at a committed relationship.

The film is written by Seth Gilbert and directed by his brother Noah Gilbert.

THINGS I LIKED:

France! We get to wander around the gorgeous south of France and escape to a vineyard.
Lovely soundtrack.
The beautiful lighting bathes almost everything in afternoon gold.
Puppydog Daniel is played by Joshua Grothe.
Blake Lindsley and Hugo Armstrong round out the main cast.
Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” is talked about with insights that will make you think.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Tom/Natalie is played by Australian actress Caitlin Stasey. She’s beautiful to look at but the freeloading, carefree character she plays in this romantic drama is rude, crass, selfish, and unappealing. She shows very little respect for others and their values. It made me not want her to be with Daniel.
I felt bad for Daniel the whole time, assuming he’d get dumped again, all while abandoning his own responsibilities and the life he had carefully created. Every minute, I just worried that Natalie/Tom would just trample all over his heart.
There was more sadness about the couple than warmth and true love.
For a romance, there should have been more kissing. Just saying.
Spider tattoo? Ick.
Hairy armpits on a beautiful girl. Ick.
Some viewers will complain that “nothing happens” in the movie. Know ahead of time that it’s a slow burn and character study.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

You see a dead horse.
Some profanity, crude conversations, and soooo many F-bombs
A woman casually talks about having an abortion and says, “It’s not a big deal.”
LOTS of alcohol, cigarettes, and coffee
A transvestite is in a scene.

THEMES:

Toxic relationships
Ghosting people
Attachment
Connection
Choices in life
Lifestyle vs. style of life
Enjoying and living life
Fate
Travel
Selfishness
Do you think there is only one right person for everyone?

FUNNY LINES:

* There really isn’t much humor.

INTERESTING LINES:

“Freedom has its chains, doesn’t it?” – transvestite in the bar
“I don’t believe in the one for everyone, but I believe in the one for me.” – Rob (Hugo Armstrong)