Review of All the Real Girls (2003) by Jose M — 15 May 2009

"All the Real Girls" is a film of extraordinary beauty and heart-rending power. I cannot recollect a better film I have seen recently that depicts a blossoming, passionate, seemingly perfect relationship between two people revert into complete and irreparable decay.

If you want to see a poignantly-made romantic film minus the happy ending, then this is probably as good a film as any I've seen. The very compelling script, coupled with the outstanding performances by Zooey Deschanel and Paul Schneider are what make this a truly stellar effort.

Deschanel's performance in particular was phenomenal. The fact that she doesn't get more opportunities to flaunt her remarkable talent as an actress is really a shame. The same can be said for Schneider, whom I have only seen in "Lars and the Real Girl.

" Nonetheless, David Gordon Green's promise a remarkably gifted up and coming director is remarkable. His work here evokes comparisons, at least in my mind, to Lars Von Trier, who uses similar techniques in both his writing and film making.

This is a film that may polarize audiences, but that I found to be utterly heartbreaking and as great of an entry in the genre as there is.