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!

TORTURED SOULS AND DIFFICULT DECISIONS (Rating: 5.00)
Review : 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.

Good Low Budget Entertainment (Rating: 3.00)
Review : All Over Me is definitely nothing worth shouting about but it has its good points. Allison Folland ( who I thought would become a bigger actor in the mid nineties ) plays Claude realistically though her acting at times comes off as draggy compared to her co-star, the actress who plays Ellen. This is a film where girls obviously rule the world and if you're not comfortable with that you won't like this movie. All Over Me is a day in the life of Claude so needless to say you have to like this character or the movie will suck from the get go.

This film is very realistic and straightforward. It is one of few films that deals with homosexuality in a delicate light ( and not just to exploit it ). All Over Me also shows how two friends can get torn apart when one becomes involved in a mentally abusive relationship. At first we believe Claude is the needy one but as the film goes along we realize Ellen is the one who's latching onto Claude the most. The co-stars are lively but the character who steals the show is Ellen. She brings a weird spark to her role and keeps the film from swarming into that laid back " girly-girl " theme most chick films turn into. All Over Me keeps its edge from beginning to end. It may not be a huge blockbuster, ( I thought I was the only one on the planet who'd ever heard of this film ) but it is worth one screening. Give it a shot. Especially if you don't mind sampling the talent of good, semi-popular actors.

Not your typical sappy, dopey, coming-of-age scenario (Rating: 4.00)
Review : 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.

One of My favorite movies...EVER (Rating: 5.00)
Review : This movie directed by the Sichel sisters (Alex and Sylvia) totally frames the early moments of Riot Grrrl in New York City. It's about a Girl (Claude) who is discovering who she is sexually and who she is in her friendship with her bestfriend Ellen. The soundtrack features Patti Smith, Helium, Sleater-Kinney and a tons more influential "lady bands". Leisha Hailey from The Murmurs plays "Lucy"- Claude's later love interest, and Pat Briggs (from the band Psychotica) and Wilson Cruz (from My So-Called Life) also star.

A solid buy (Rating: 5.00)
Review : This just happens to be the movie that hooked me onto the music of the Murmurs, Leisha Hailey, one of the main 'Murmurs' has a role. It is a great coming of age tale about a girl coming to terms with a friend's bad judgements, the death of another close friend, and the meeting of an understanding punk rocker. Alison Folland does a great job portraying the main character Claude in her awkward, but necessary, journey to knowing herself. I love the fact that she stays who she is no matter what people say to her. It is a tough feat to eat candy and ice cream when your best friend calls you a pig and your mother calls you fat. It's a charming movie with characters I swear I have met before.