All the Real Girls (2003, David Gordon Green)

"Small-town love story of a young man with a reputation for womanizing and his best friend's sister"

David Gordon Green is the real deal. He is hands down one of the best young filmmakers out there and with only 3 films he has already left me in awe that such a young director is making films of this quality and All the Real Girls is his masterpiece so far, but I am sure there will be many more for hi in the following years.

All the Real Girls tells a simple story of a Casanova of a small southern town falling in love with his best friends sister. Even David Gordon Green says that this is far from an original concept in the special features but even he says that its the overall execution and performances which make the film stand out. He is 100 percent right on this.

Every character in the film feels real. We feel as if we just happen to be watching these real life characters as they live their lives and talk about random things. Green seems to be an expert at this and also an expert of subtle improv between the actors because most scenes just seem too natural to not be.if they are not, then this is an amazing script.

The other Green trademark that shines here, and in his other films, is that he knows how to use his landscapes to create such a beautiful and quiet atmosphere that only makes the film feel more rich, real, and above all beautiful.

The one thing though that really makes All the Real Girls stand out and in my opinion makes it his masterpiece is the subtle energy and beauty he is able to capture in the film. Most of the key moments in the film that will stick with you don't have anything to do with the plot at all and seem like odd throwaway scenes that at first leave you thinking that the scene feels out of place but really in the end just adds on to the overall mood of the film.

The best example of this being clowns dancing in a children's hospital. The scene feels random at first but it doesn't take long to leave you smiling and make you feel what Gordon Green is trying to do, which is the simple "everything can be beautiful" Same applies to little kids playing on swingsets or a daughter telling her dad about the nightmare she had the night before.

However all these scenes center around the main love story that drives the film and it is easily one of my favorite love stories told on film. It feels real and it really an emotional ride to see how it develops through out the film. Saying anything more would spoil the film and a lot of the best scenes in the film.

After watching this film I really cant wait to see what else David Gordon Green will do in the next years. This man will go down in film history if he keeps on going like this. Mark my words.

- A+