Movie Review: ‘The Only One’

Review by James Lindorf

What happens when a brat and a simp fall in love? The answer can be found in “The Only One” from Director Noah Gilbert and writer Seth Gilbert. They may be making their feature film debut, but they have worked together three times. Vertical Entertainment will release the film in select theaters and On Demand everywhere on December 10th, 2021.

Tom (Caitlin Stasey) has spent her adult life with a severe case of wanderlust. Working odd jobs, meeting new people, collecting passport stamps, experiences and stories to tell her grandchildren one day. Now that she has just turned thirty, she wonders if now is the time to settle down and start working on that family. To determine if she is ready, she returns to David (Jon Beavers), the one person who made it so hard for her to leave she fled while “going out for cigarettes.” David loved Tom from the moment they met. After she ran away, he moved to the south of France and for six years dedicated himself to the backbreaking art of making wine the traditional way. When she arrives unannounced, driven by the ticking of her biological clock, David begins to cancel one plan after another to pursue the relationship he’s never been able to forget. Will Tom decide to commit to conventional life or continue her life of adventure? Will David give Tom her first home in a decade, or will he give up his life to follow her around the world?

Making the French countryside look great may not be the most arduous task in filmmaking. Still, credit has to be given to cinematographer Todd Bell (A Doll’s Eyes) for the overall look of “The Only One.” The use of natural light is fantastic, and the use of golds and oranges helps visualize the warmth you feel when you are with someone you love. The film’s look may be its best selling point, but it is not the only well-executed element. The movie feels uniform and well planned, implying that newcomer Noah Gilbert did not allow the largest project he has ever done to overwhelm him. Another sign of good direction is the quality performances turned in by every cast member. Stasey and Beavers are clear standouts compared to the rest, but the supporting cast is still respectable.

It is hard to call Seth Gilbert’s script the weak spot, but that is precisely what it will be for some viewers. Tom and David are layered, believable characters with a complicated relationship built on laughter and attraction. The only problem is that neither of them is likable, which makes the 104-minute runtime seem much longer than it is. How much is Tom willing to put him through to solve her curiosity, and what is he willing to give up for someone who couldn’t even tell him goodbye six years ago. They have a great time together, but it will always be a toxic relationship that will end poorly no matter what is going on when the credits roll. The foundation of a relationship can’t be built on one person always giving and the other always taking. One day David would resent her or run out of things to give her, and she will run away again. As misguided as he may be, it is easier to side with David and view him as a romantic who will do anything for love. On the other hand, Tom is a spoiled brat who never considers David’s feelings, and it makes her hard to root for.

“The Only One” is a beautifully filmed and well-acted cautionary tale that love isn’t always enough. For their first feature-length film, the Gilberts earn a 4 out of 5. If they could have nailed the likability or increased the level of fun, this is a movie I could watch every year when I wish I could afford a trip to France.