The Only One

IN A NUTSHELL: On the brink of accepting a life of independence and wanderlust, a young woman visits an old flame on his vineyard in France and takes one last shot at a committed relationship. The film is written by Seth Gilbert and directed by his brother Noah Gilbert. THINGS I LIKED: France! We get to wander around the gorgeous south of France and escape to a vineyard. Lovely soundtrack. The beautiful lighting bathes almost everything in afternoon gold. Puppydog Daniel is played by Joshua Grothe. Blake Lindsley and Hugo Armstrong round out the main cast. Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" is talked about with insights that will make you think. THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: Tom/Natalie is played by Australian actress Caitlin Stasey. She's beautiful to look at but the freeloading, carefree character she plays in this romantic drama is rude, crass, selfish, and unappealing. She shows very little respect for others and their values. It made me not want her to be with Daniel. I felt bad for Daniel the whole time, assuming he'd get dumped again, all while abandoning his own responsibilities and the life he had carefully created. Every minute, I just worried that Natalie/Tom would just trample all over his heart. There was more sadness about the couple than warmth and true love. For a romance, there should have been more kissing. Just saying. Spider tattoo? Ick. Hairy armpits on a beautiful girl. Ick. Some viewers will complain that "nothing happens" in the movie. Know ahead of time that it's a slow burn and character study. You can see my full review on my Movie Review Mom YouTube channel.

I really enjoyed this movie which explores what is gained and what is lost for the sake of relationships: with romantic partners, family, and even the things we love. The acting is nuanced and draws you in to the love stories. The setting in the south of France made me want to get on a plane (covid or no covid) and head over to walk along beside the vineyards or the sea. All in all, it is a film worth seeing.

This film was a refreshing change from a lot of mediocre movies out there. It took its time and asked more questions than it answered but all in all was thoroughly enjoyable. Insightful (and clever) dialogue, authentic humanity and asking some serious existential questions. Add the French ambiance and wistful insights and you have a perfect storm. The pacing may not be for everyone but I couldn't have enjoyed this escape to the French countryside more.

Beautiful cinematography. Beyond that there isn't much else. It's script is lackluster and emotional depth is sorely absent. I found myself unable to root for either main character as they simply weren't likable. If you enjoy wine and watching pretty people in pretty places, you might appreciate this.

Just like the other review, I didn't get the film and I watched it completely. Very nice scenery and acting was ok, but LifeTime movies have a more meaningful script.

Don't bother with this... Not even worth typing 150 characters, no idea why this was even released. Terrible acting and a terrible movie. Find something else to watch.

This movie isn't about discovering yourself or "true love" but a Hollywood portrayal of an unhealthy obsession and trauma bonding. "Waiting" for someone to change is unhealthy no matter how many beautiful actors you cast to try and veil the toxicity. The only redeeming factor of wasting 104 minutes of your time is if you mute it and enjoy the cinematography of the South of France as a screensaver since it lacks any actual substance. It is obvious that the director and producer tried to pull the wool over the audience's eyes with a cloak of gaslighting, empty promises and no real emotional intelligence.