:
Arliss Howard,
Arliss Howard,
Debra Winger,
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:
Arliss Howard,
Arliss Howard
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: 
: MGM
: Drama, Vietnam War
: 110 min.
: English
: English, Spanish
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Actor Arliss Howard made his debut as a director with this emotional drama adapted from a handful of short stories by Larry Brown. Barlow (Arliss Howard) is a deeply troubled Vietnam veteran who has been chasing a career as a writer, with little success; when he isn't struggling with his typewriter, he's usually drinking, and his wild mood swings and alcoholic fits of rage have driven away his wife Marilyn (Debra Winger), who has taken their son Alan (Zach Moody) and daughter Alisha (Olivia Kersey) with her. Barlow would like to see his children, but Marilyn refuses to allow it until he catches up on his alimony and child support payments; one of Barlow's few loyal friends, Monroe (Paul LeMat), a buddy from his Army days, is able to get him work as a house painter. With steady paychecks, Barlow is finally able to clear his debts to Marilyn, but she refuses to acknowledge that he's made much progress in turning his life around, and he doesn't get much more emotional support from his ailing mother (Angie Dickinson) or his friend Velma (Rosanna Arquette). Big Bad Love marked the second screen pairing for husband-and-wife Arliss Howard and Debra Winger; it was also Winger's first screen appearance in six years. Acclaimed songwriter Tom Waits composed the film's original score. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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| As wise and sweet and as a blues number pouring out the doors of a juke joint in Greenville
by jamkat79
October 10, 2003 - 2:20 PM PDT
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4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
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Big Bad Love hasn't received the attention and acclaim it deserves, perhaps because it is a film about rural southern characters who defy rather than reinforce stereotypes. Very few mainstream films set in the South do much more than trade in the same tired stock images of backwoods ignorance and violence, with toothless goons straight out of central casting, but that is not the case with Arlis Howard's adaptation of Larry Brown's gorgeous, troubling, and darkly comic collection of stories.
Aside from its convention-busting, BBL is nimble and smart in its direction, features a kick-ass soundtrack (Steve Earle, Tom Waits, and several Fat Possum artists, including T-Model Ford) and gives us a chance to watch Paul Le Mat, one of Hollywood's most underused character actors. He exudes so much innocence and good nature and wit in this film, it makes you wonder why his last decent job was in Melvin and Howard. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.10)
21 Votes
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