Reviews

I can't stop laughing from reading the other reviews posted here. Seriously folks, you need to write scripts or something else but write because the reviews make this movie worth seeing, again.

I rented this movie because I was told that Chupacabras were abnormally large goats that sucked the blood from Mexicans. I was completely sold just from see the word Chupacabras and then when I saw the picture on the DVD cover, I was in heaven.

I gathered my best friend and my boyfriend and we started to watch this movie about a journalist who's publisher husband won't give her any real stories at the paper they both own and operate. Then one day, news of a Chupacabras comes in and he decides to give her the story. I couldn't stop laughing. After that the story got worse and worse and worse. Until we had to stop watching. But I did promise myself I would return someday and give it another go. I couldn't finish Magnolia the first time, either. Or Chinatown. Or Mullholland Drive. All movies that I now own on DVD and love. Who knows? This movie may join their ranks somedays!!! Maybe not but who's to say? I think they should do a special extended edition of the film (like The Lord of The Rings editions) and include the reviews from here since they are really funny.

Long live indie film-making and filmmakers!!!

I couldn't believe this film when I saw it. I was so shocked and entertained at the same time. At first I couldn't believe it was really a story about incest but then I got what the film was doing and I couldn't stop watching. Totally inventive and fresh.

And, yes it really p***ed folks off. Keep in mind the subject matter is very controversial and will make you think long after you walk out of the theater (Thank God!).

The film is due out 2005 with a theatrical release (if you live in big cities, if you don't then you should move) and will be followed with a DVD/home video run. I can't wait to see how this film affects audiences.

Chris' work has always been gorgeous and thoughtful and amazingly produced. This is probably his best work to date.

I saw a cut of the film on VHS a long time ago. I'm not sure if this was the Cannes version or not.

Many months later, I saw the film, again, in Santa Monica at the Nuart. Gallo was there to do q&a afterwards. I need to talk for a second about the groups of girls (young women) that were waiting to see, touch, taste, take a little bit of Gallo away with them. It made me feel so sad. Los Angeles does something to people. It hollows them out, at least a little bit. Then I snuck inside the theater and saw the empty cold movie theater till I was hassled to leave by the theater manager and get back in line outside.

All this happened before the screening. I watched the film at times sneaking glances with my best friend worried that the crowd was going to not get it and attack Gallo. For the most part they did. I wonder sometimes if people don't get a little more stupid in crowds. I think this was the case.

I really didn't know what to think of the film. I walked around afterwards wondering what the hell had I been watching. I knew why. The why is always because I believe in film as art and that it should be judged that way. But what had I been watching?

Now months later I think I'm a little more clear what that was. Gallo is a gorgeous technical filmmaker. He takes great leaps in his films in story assuming that the folks in the dark (the audience) is smarter than him. Sadly, these days most people feel that since they paid 11 dollars that the director is smarter than them. So they expect to be treated like a child and talked to in that way. Gallo is sadly living in this world and making films in it. He's more optimistic than I am, I guess.

I guess, if you couldn't find a review in the paragraphs above, that my review is, "well done, Gallo. it's not for everyone but none of can be and make movies like this."

What is up with you people who don't like this film?

It's incredible and haunting and large. Titanic in space and gorgeously cultured with grief and intimacy. Our lives are a lot less happy and we have a lot less money since 9/11. Life kind of sucks to be honest. And we overcompensate by looking for 'entertainment' and 'satisfaction' in films and TV. Well, films have the ability to show us how fractured our modern lives are. They can help en-lighten us (lighten us up) through metaphor and intimacy.

Our lives are slow and boring most of the time. And good films are intimate and can clearly catalog the moments inbetween boredom and show how sad and gorgeous they can be.

Although I hated 'O Beautiful' and actually stood up and hissed in the theater when I saw it, I really think 'Book of Love' is a daring and beautiful film. This filmmaker taps into me with his choices in ethics and being powerless in a world that runs on igonorance of the first and worship of the second.

I don't go into the storyline or plot points because I don't think that would serve someone who is going to watch the film. Sorry but I'd rather you enjoy it the way I did. Cheers and good luck to all who read this.

I saw this film at the New Festival in New York. It was by far the worst film there. It's use of uncircumcised full frontal nudity and a wishy-washy script and direction that neither commits to a re-make of 'Maurice' nor decides it's a Neil LaBute flick, left me feeling 'Why would anyone ruin a perfectly good cast like this?'. It lacks irony and fills the vacuum with sentiment, which causes the times when the movie turns on itself to make you want to wipe your face as your mind and heart search for what could be going on in the film but isn't. I wish the director and editor had re-edited the film because maybe there's more story there that could be released from an otherwise unpleasant experience.

I saw this film at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood as part of Outfest's Wednesday series. This film is incredibly un-ethical and it's sexualization of a gay bashing it insensitive and exploitative. It's like tramping up the victim in a rape vs. showing how terrible the attack is and how similar both rape and gay bashing really are, sociologically and psychologically. At some point during the film I started hissing. I didn't stop till the movie ended. I have rarely been so outraged before. I can't remember when but I couldn't take it anymore. If there was any irony in the film it would have at least been aware of itself but instead it was just immoral and cruel, in dangerous times as these. Camera tricks do not excuse irresponsible film-making. There are filmmaker out there who are trying to do work on the edge for a reason not just because they can't write something compelling like this script. This work clouds their work. Get a grip!