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Drama

All Square (2018): Cast, Ratings & Plot

All Square (2018) movie poster

All Square is a 2018 drama directed by John Hyams, starring Michael Kelly as John, Jesse Ray Sheps and Harris Yulin. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and was made on a reported $750,000 budget. Critics gave it 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10.

IMDb rating
6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
90%
Echo Score
72
Metascore
65
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All Square (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 33m (93 min)
Director
John Hyams
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$750K
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is All Square About?

The premise of All Square without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A struggling bookie named John Zbikowski unexpectedly connects with his ex-girlfriend's intelligent 12-year-old son, Brian. Facing financial difficulties, John develops a risky plan to win back lost money by betting on Brian's Little League games. This scheme complicates their relationship, raising questions about the boundaries between guidance and exploitation.

All Square Themes & Keywords

· 37 tags
  • bookie
  • baseball
  • little league
  • betting
  • sports betting
  • consequences
  • kidnapped dog
  • bar
  • sheet rock
  • sucker punch
  • implied sex
  • mother son relationship
+25 more
  • mentor mentee relationship
  • little league baseball
  • burglary
  • large screen tv
  • father son relationship
  • former professional baseball player
  • bare chested male
  • vandalism
  • bribe
  • baseball coaching
  • child drinking beer
  • horse race bet
  • lookout
  • reference to manslaughter
  • blackmail
  • grievance
  • game spectator
  • money in a shoebox
  • reference to marital infidelity
  • making amends
  • donation
  • wall of fame
  • punched in the face
  • former classmate
  • dog
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Cast & crew

All Square Cast & Characters

Michael Kelly leads the cast as John, with Jesse Ray Sheps as Brian and Harris Yulin as Bob. Directed by John Hyams; 12 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

All Square Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave All Square 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 72/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in story & flow (55).

72 /100

All Square Echo Score Breakdown

In All Square, the film’s strengths lie in its dependable ensemble performances and professional production values. The supporting cast delivers nuanced portrayals that ground the story, and the direction and cinematography maintain a clear visual coherence. However, the narrative follows familiar beats and occasionally lacks originality, leading to moments of predictable pacing and limited dramatic urgency. While the project offers touching drama and well-realized characters, its conventional storyline restrains its overall impact. The cumulative effect is a modestly engaging film with notable acting but modest narrative innovation.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, the film demonstrates solid professionalism in direction and visual construction. Reviews note Hyams’s measured pace behind the camera and competent editing that supports narrative clarity. The production design and cinematography consistently evoke the small-town setting, though occasional lapses in dramatic urgency are evident. Overall, the film’s technical presentation reliably serves the story.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    In terms of character and emotion, the film excels in ensemble performances and nuanced interactions. The lead role and supporting cast deliver believable portrayals with clear chemistry, grounding the moral conflicts in a relatable way. Some observers note the redemptive arc follows familiar patterns, yet the emotional resonance remains strong. The result is warm, character-driven engagement.

  • Story & Flow 55

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative offers measured pacing but relies on conventional plot beats. Critics describe the script as uneven, with moments of affecting drama tempered by predictable structure. The coherence of character motivations is consistent, yet originality is limited by familiar redemptive tropes. Ultimately, the storyline engages sporadically but does not fully surprise.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    In terms of sensory experience, the film presents a cohesive visual style and ambient sound design that grounds the setting in small-town authenticity. The soundtrack complements scenes without overpowering, and the sound mixing remains balanced. While there are no standout sonic flourishes, the overall sensory approach consistently reinforces the film’s atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    In terms of rewatch factor, the film’s solid performances and dependable craft offer moderate replay value. The familiar storyline and predictable pacing limit enthusiasm for subsequent viewings, despite engaging character moments. While the ambient sense of place and ensemble chemistry maintain interest, the conventional narrative structure reduces lasting appeal over repeated watches.

Plot

All Square Plot Summary

What happens in All Square from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

John “Zibs” Zbikowski, a beleaguered small-town bookie, finds himself at his lowest point after giving up a promising baseball career to take care of his ailing father, Bob. Bob’s tragic history, marked by a lethal DUI that shattered their lives, weighs heavily on Zibs as he inherits his father’s struggling sportsbook. Faced with mounting debts, Zibs resorts to unsavory tactics to collect money from the locals, often leaving a trail of devastation in his wake.

A surprising encounter with his high school sweetheart, Debbie, leads to a brief but impactful fling, introducing Zibs to her 12-year-old son, Brian. Initially hesitant, Zibs attends Brian’s baseball game and is intrigued by the potential for profit by betting on local Youth League games.

Full summary

The whole story of All Square, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

All Square Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

All Square | Official Trailer (HD) | Vertical Entertainment
  • Trailer All Square Trailer #1 (2018) | Movieclips Indie
Quiz

How Well Do You Know All Square?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is John 'Zibs' Zbikowski's profession at the start of the film?

Cars

Cars in All Square

7 cars on screen, including the 2013 Tesla Model S and the Ford Focus Kombi MkII.

All 7 cars
  • 2013 Tesla Model S in All Square 2013 Tesla Model S Important role
  • Ford Focus Kombi MkII in All Square Ford Focus Kombi MkII Background role
  • 2013 MAN Lion's City G in All Square 2013 MAN Lion's City G Background role
  • Mercedes-Benz SL R107 in All Square Mercedes-Benz SL R107 Background role
Details

All Square Also Known As

5 alternative titles, including “Tam Kare” and “Apostando na Vida”.

Also known as
  • Tam Kare
  • Apostando na Vida
  • Hra na férovku
  • Totul clar
  • Jesteśmy kwita

Seen All Square?

FAQ

All Square FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of All Square, each answered in a sentence.

How long is All Square?

All Square runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).

When was All Square released?

All Square was released on October 12, 2018.

Who directed All Square?

All Square was directed by John Hyams.

More films by John Hyams

Who is in the cast of All Square?

All Square stars Michael Kelly as John, Jesse Ray Sheps as Brian and Harris Yulin as Bob, among 12 credited actors.

What was the budget of All Square?

All Square had a reported budget of $750,000.

How is All Square rated?

All Square has 6.2/10 on IMDb, 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65 on Metacritic and 60% on TMDB.

Does All Square have a post-credit scene?

No. All Square has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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