"Director: Alex Sichel"

• All Over Me | DVD | (08/04/2002) from £12.98   |  Saving you £7.01 (54.01%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Coming-of-age themes are an obvious choice for movie-makers but All Over Me is far from being run of the mill. It follows the friendship and codependence of two 15-year-old New York girls, one (Claude) gradually coming to terms with the fact that she's gay, the other (Ellen), getting sucked into a world of boys, violence and drugs. It brilliantly and sympathetically realised by film-maker sisters Alex and Sylvia Sichel, with superb performances by the two leads, Alison Folland and Tara Subkoff. When the violent, homophobic murder of the girls' new-found friend, Jesse (Wilson Cruz) threatens to rip them apart, Ellen embarks on a trail of self-destruction while Claude finally seems able to come to terms with her own destiny, ultimately getting together with the pretty, magenta-haired punk musician, Lucy (a superbly empathetic performance from Leisha Hailey). It's a film that's saved from introspective self-indulgence by the brutal interruption of the outside world, and it's not just a thought-provoking hour-and-a-half, it's a compelling narrative experience. The only weakness is the two-dimensional characterization of Ellen's psychotic boyfriend, well enough played by Cole Hauser, but intrinsically limited in scope. Ann Dowd is superb as Claude's man-chasing mother and the film is topped off by a funky soundtrack. On the DVD: All over Me doesn't just offer the "usual theatrical trailer" for the film in question but instead offers trailers for two related films, Better than Chocolate and Trick, both of which deal truthfully with gay issues offering a light and often humorous touch. However, that's it as far as additional goodies are concerned, which is a shame, but the vibrant soundtrack is presented in a great Dolby Digital sound. --Harriet Smith

• All Over Me (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk) | DVD | (07/12/2009) from £20.00   |  Saving you £-5.01 (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Claude is a cute young slightly butch skateboarding teenager who has a thing for her messed-up best friend Ellen. Ellen however has a thing for a homophobe. Enter Luke a self-assured gay musician who encourages Claude to actually explore her feelings and perceptions of herself and the world that she lives in. Claude's life is falling apart as those around her continue to destroy themselves in an orgy of drug abuse that eventually leads to murder. Thanking Luke's advice she finds her way to the local lesbian bar where she meets Lucy a cute punkish girl playing in an all girl band. But is this the lifestyle that Claude really wants?