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Based on the acclaimed short story collection by Mississippi
writer Larry Brown, Big Bad Love is the impressive
directorial debut of actor Arliss Howard (Full Metal Jacket,
A Map Of The World).
The opening line is a mysterious voiceover of an invisible
narrator who fades in and out throughout the film, preparing
us for innovative, even odd, filmmaking throughout. "Leon
Barlow, whose gritty fiction has entertained so few for so
long, issued a statement to his wastebasket today, while ignoring
a bill from his ex-wife's lawyer," is accompanied by
unique, quick-cut cinematography that shows Leon’s humble
abode, filled with rejection letters from manuscripts of old.
And lots of empty whiskey bottles.
A gritty tale of alcoholic, burgeoning screenwriter Barlow
(Howard) struggling to write fiction in the Mississippi hill
country, this film is a far cry from the typical writer flick
set in academia a la Finding Forrester and Dead
Poets Society. Barlow struggles to balance his weekend
custody of his children, (a preadolescent boy and a small
girl with a terminal illness) a no-nonsense ex-wife (Howard’s
real-life spouse, Winger), a war buddy and best friend (Le
Mat) who’s puzzling over his own consuming love for a
funeral home heiress (Arquette), and an overly concerned mother
(Dickinson).
Big Bad Love feels a little longer than it is, but
it’s wholly enjoyable nonetheless. Although it’s
set in rural Mississippi, even urbanites and suburbanites
like most of us can identify with the universal facets of
life the film delves into: love, loss, family, rejection,
acceptance, fear, pride, perseverance.
Arliss Howard is brilliant and convincing as Leon. The script,
by Arliss and his brother James, features a lovely mix of
comedic moments and tear-jerking scenes. Debra Winger returns
to film after a six-year hiatus to deliver a seamless performance
as a woman struggling to deal with two young children and
a rather childish ex-husband. Dickinson is right on target
as the just slightly overbearing, worried mother doting on
her grandchildren. Le Mat (The Outfitters, American
Graffiti) tackles the challenging role of redneck best
buddy turned mental case after some serious brain damage caused
by drunk driving.
Best of all, Big Bad Love is unique! Originality is
hard to come by these days, but if you’re in search of
a solid, creative, original couple of hours, this one’s
for you.
— Michelle Fajkus
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While we would never encourage anyone to destroy a video... 
