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38 of 39 found the following review helpful:
 An Overlooked But Important FilmJun 23, 2005
By Stephanie Crawford
I am really, really excited that this film has finally come to DVD- even though it contains no extra features, and this is a movie that could produce a wonderful commentary and/or DVD documentary. I first saw this film on Cinemax when I was about 14 years old and I haven't forgotten it even now that I'm in my early 20's. Alison Folland perfectly underplays Claude- a quiet, insecure girl whose relationship with her best friend Ellen (played by an inspired Tara Subkoff) becomes strained when Ellen starts spending all her time with her new boozing & druggie boyfriend- while at the same time Claude begins to have romantic feelings towards Ellen.
Folland's character soon makes friends with two very special people who encourage her to pursue her love of rock music- Luke, who just moves into the apartment building, and Lucy (Leisha Hailey, who was well-known as a member of the band The Murmurs when this film was released & also supplies some music to the film) who also gives Claude her first same-sex romantic encounter- which is done with a light, sweet & realistic touch. The film does become darker as it plays on, with Ellen's spiral into addiction and ending with a sudden and shocking hate crime takes the life of a friend, and forces Claude to grow up very quickly.
This is a wonderful film that everyone can take something meaningful from- you don't have to be a teenage girl or homosexual/bi-sexual to appreciate the characters, story, and ultimately the message. It also has a fantastic soundtrack (my copy still gets spun after a good seven years) that includes music from Sleater-Kinney, Patti Smith, Ani DiFranco, Tuscadero and many more that skillfully encapsulates both the mid-to-late 90's time period and feel of the movie.
27 of 28 found the following review helpful:
Alison Folland Alison Folland Alison FollandAug 06, 2000
Overall this is an amazing movie, with an amazing soundtrack. The casting was excellent, the story moving. I laughed between crying fits. But I have to say it was beautiful and talented Alison Folland's honest and endearing portrayal of Claud the confused self-effacing yet strong young (soon-to-be) lesbian that made this movie what it is. Claud's smile at the end of the movie, probably her first smile in the move at all, just lit me up, the joy in finally being true to herself is so apparent...it still sticks with me. Actually the whole movie sticks with me, long after the first viewing, when other movies have faded into the background All Over Me still shines as one of my all time favorites. It should be a classic. The plot has already been rehashed 20 or so times so I won't go into it again, but at the heart of this movie is the question "what are the boundaries in a friendship?" Any woman who can still remember that close best friend from girlhood, the one you didn't do anything without, can remember how insane the relationship really was...the love, the jealousy, the sexual energy. That's what is at the core of this movie and it rocks. Buy it, watch it, love it. I promise you won't be sorry.
32 of 34 found the following review helpful:
TORTURED SOULS AND DIFFICULT DECISIONSDec 08, 1998
By Shannon Graham (sg8434@mail.mcneese.edu)
I had never heard of this movie until a close friend suggested that I watch it. I had little expectations going into this film but I was soon blown away by the solid plot and the exceptional acting of all the characters. All Over Me follows the friendship of Claude and Ellen, two teenage girls living in Hell's Kitchen New York. The two are exceptionally close and spend most of their time in Claude's room, practicing to become a band. Tensions rise when the friendship crosses the line and Ellen starts seeing Mark, a hostile young man who thrives on confrontation. The viewer watches as Claude deals with the new facets of her friendship with Ellen and her own sexuality. Claude soon meets up with Lucy, a sweet pink haired rocker who is completely at ease with who and what she is. The story climaxes with the death of a central figure that will rock Claude and Ellen's relationship forever. All Over Me is a powerful movie, with a solid plot and excellent acting by Allison Folland, Leisha Hailey, Pat Briggs and Wilson Cruz. Anyone who survived adolescence would appreciate this film and it's characters.
22 of 23 found the following review helpful:
Alien SHeJun 25, 2000
While most gay and lesbian coming-of-age films seem to be a dime a dozen, this heartfelt drama of a shy teenager's realization of her lesbianism is far from typical. For this independent film by the Sichel sisters (Alex and Sylvia) really captures the growing pains of adolescence as well as the joy and excitement of the main characters emerging lesbian identity. Set in New York's Hell's Kitchen area, the story focuses on Claude (Alison Follard) and her best friend Ellen (Tara Subkoff) during the hot summer. Claude feels completely alone, suffering not only from the typical neurocies of adolescence but from her unrequited love for Ellen, who is suffering thru her own trauma with her abusive boyfriend and lack of self esteem. Moody and uncommunicative, with only music (Patti Smith) to sooth her soul, Claude eventually finds solace with a cute riot grrrl and fellow baby dyke Lucy (the amazing Leisha Haley). This is a story about changes, self-discovery and learning to love yourself. Wilson Cruz (My So Called Life, Party Of 5, Rent) co-stars. Fantastic!
13 of 13 found the following review helpful:
 Not your typical sappy, dopey, coming-of-age scenarioMar 05, 2003
All Over Me is one of those films that's hard to forget and easy to watch more than once. The story, set in New York, revolves around teenagers Claude and Ellen. Claude is shy, intelligent, sensitive and beautiful in her own way. Ellen, who is her best friend is comically stunning, angry, the epitomy of the "who gives a... attitude", and given over to dark, self-destructiveness. Claude finds herself in love with Ellen as the two spend time together, trying to form a band and hanging out in the neighborhood. Ellen on the other hand is persuaded over to the side of her older, drug dealer boyfriend who is jealous of the relationship formed between the two girls. Throw in a neighbor, Luke, who looks alot like a younger, shorter Iggy Pop and the story progresses. One night Luke gets into a spat with Ellen's testosterone-charged, dictating boyfriend which ultimately leads to tragedy. In the midst of this commotion, Claude finds herself fond of a cute, fuschia-haired, pixie played by Leisha Hailey from The Murmurs. Both Claude and Ellen are left to figure out what they should do about the incident concerning Luke. Claude confides in her friend played by Wilson Cruz (My So Called Life) as Ellen just does what Ellen does best: drugs, booze and chaos. Still in love with Ellen, Claude is finding it difficult to let herself get close to the girl she just met but confessions of her love to Ellen just seem to infuriate Ellen or confuse Ellen (one time she tells Claude she won't go anywhere with her and the next minute she's calling Claude her "knight in shining armor"?? Hmm). Ultimately, the friendship collapses as Claude does the right thing concerning her neighbor and Ellen's boyfriend is arrested. The ending seems like Claude's new freedom without Ellen - she cleans her room, starts practicing her guitar with her fuschia-haired girlfriend and allows herself to be in love once again. This doesn't seem like one of those sappy, coming-of-age stories that's just waiting for the laugh-track to go off - it has substance, real characters, and relevant problems to deal with. On another note, it's not so dark that you just want to go in your room with the door shut and cry - it leaves hope and allows you to feel that there are noble people as well as sinister ones that exist. It also portrays different kinds of beautiful girls instead of that "popular, cheerleader" cliche. This movie is excellent, thought-provoking, feeling and substantial.
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