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Big Bad Love

Play trailer Poster for Big Bad Love R Released Feb 22, 2002 1h 51m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
42% Tomatometer 59 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
An investigation into what it takes to make a thing. A chair, a soufflé, a pistol, a bridge. They come into being out of a certain restlessness, an irrefutable drive to put something where nothing was before. It's about running after something that you can never catch, and running from something you can never elude: As many kinds of love as there are in the world, the ones that make your heart beat fastest and the blood rush around in your head are usually the ones you can't put down.
Big Bad Love

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A boozy depiction of a struggling writer, Big Bad Love is too messy and self-indulgent.

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Critics Reviews

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Keith Uhlich ToxicUniverse.com Ultimately a failed actor's piece... Rated: 2/5 Feb 7, 2003 Full Review Manohla Dargis L.A. Weekly A mess, but it's a sincere mess. Aug 8, 2002 Full Review Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune Though you couldn't call Love a complete success, it's packed with talent and intelligence, wayward poetry and bluesy longing. Rated: 3/4 Jul 20, 2002 Full Review Richard Crouse Richard Crouse A well crafted directorial debut from Howard who handles this quiet tale of an artist's redemption with a firm hand. Rated: 4/5 Jan 31, 2021 Full Review Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Rated: 2/5 Aug 7, 2008 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com This ambitious drama about a Vietnam vet trying to create fiction out of his troubled life and former marriage (to Debra Winger) is messy, rambling, and overlong. Rated: D+ Apr 12, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member The greatest film of all time! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member One of my all-time favorite movies. Real characters and true life on the screen, dealing with the pain of what average life can take from a person devoted to his/her art. A profound, yet also subtle film -- not appreciated or understood by many. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Superb direction, acting, music, cinematography. Arliss Howard and his colleagues should be commended for this unheralded gem. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member an odd film about a southern author's day to day struggles with success and happiness Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member The main character (an author), starts the movie by getting drunk. Then he drinks a beer while writing. Then his manuscript gets rejected and he drinks. Then he goes to a bar, gets drunk, and sucker punches a guy. Then the next day, he wakes up in his filthy home and has a hangover. Not a fun way to spend 90 minutes. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member seriously a gorgeous flick. great writing and directing. with great music too Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Big Bad Love

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Cast & Crew

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Arliss Howard

Director

Arliss Howard

Barlow

Debra Winger

Marilyn

Paul Le Mat

Monroe

Rosanna Arquette

Velma

Angie Dickinson

Mrs. Barlow

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Big Bad Love

Big Bad Love (2001) Big Bad Love (2001) Big Bad Love (2001) Big Bad Love (2001) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An investigation into what it takes to make a thing. A chair, a soufflé, a pistol, a bridge. They come into being out of a certain restlessness, an irrefutable drive to put something where nothing was before. It's about running after something that you can never catch, and running from something you can never elude: As many kinds of love as there are in the world, the ones that make your heart beat fastest and the blood rush around in your head are usually the ones you can't put down.
Director
Arliss Howard
Producer
Debra Winger
Screenwriter
Arliss Howard, Jim Howard
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Sun Moon & Stars Productions, Big Bad Love LLC
Rating
R (Some Sexuality|Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 22, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$100.4K
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)