Big Bad Love

R

Released Feb 22, 2002

1h 51m

Drama

List

42%

59 Reviews

Tomatometer

70%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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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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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
Screenwriter: Arliss Howard, Jim Howard
Distributor: IFC Films
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)