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.
