Book of Love (2004) Online

If three can play at love, and if that love is an equilateral triangle, then each of the three is equally responsible for the ramifications. Were that the case in this little low budget Indie film BOOK OF LOVE the story would have more resonance. But art imitates life and life is full of contradictions and double standards and that is what seems to writer/director Alan Brown seems out to show us.

David (Simon Baker) is a popular history teacher in a private girl's school in New Jersey and is blissfully married to Elaine (Frances O'Connor) who is an Events Planner and thrives on her time with her husband, wanting to delay having children for 'at least ten years' in lieu of an exciting marital sex life. Into this radiantly alive couple's life enters a young fifteen-year-old highschool student and swimmer Chet (Gregory Smith) who happens to meet them in an ice cream parlour and immediately feels a warmth for the two of them. The feeling is mutual, especially and David and Elaine learn that Chet has no strong family ties, has never even been into Manhattan much less to Disney World, a place Chet covets.

David and Elaine invite Chet into their home and lives, dining with him, taking him to a club in Manhattan (a place where Elaine takes the stage to sing with her lesbian friend entertainer), involving him in talks about Cambodian history and philosophy, etc. As an aside, their lesbian couple friends approach David to be the sperm donor for a child and Elaine and David agree to their request. David, Elaine and Chet appear to be a most happy trio until Chet makes physical advances to Elaine, advances which Elaine initially gently rebuffs but simultaneously feels awakened sensual responses to this young virginal lad. Chet finds it difficult to separate his love for the couple and his corporeal desires and ultimately Chet and Elaine have a sexual encounter.

Elaine confesses her indiscretion to David, allows him his initial pain, and then is surprised at David's forgiveness and immediate physical response to her. Chet comes to David's office, apologizes for the event, and David again surprises Chet with his forgiveness and his suggestion that the trio continue with David's promised trip for the three of them to Disney World.

While on the outing to Disney World David invites Chet into the hotel room for a drink and a demonstration of Chet's diving skills, a set up for a physical encounter on the floor. Elaine enters the room, sees the encounter as a sexual one, frightens Chet who stabs David in a scuffle, and the Disney World trip ends in disaster. It is the working out of the new twist on the triangle that furnishes the rest of the film and the final results of the trio's relationship is surprising and stretches the limits of credibility.

The problem member of this ménage a trois is Elaine, a woman who allows herself to become sexually involved with Chet, but when she believes David is likewise sexually involved with the lad she is unable to cope. It seems like the woman of the triangle determines the rules and that is where many will feel this story is more tragic.

O'Connor is a fine English/Australian actress and gives a top-flight performance. Simon Baker is another Australian (Tasmanian) actor who has a great deal of depth and strong screen presence. Gregory Smith is a young Canadian actor who shows tremendous promise. Together the three give fine ensemble acting that makes this unlikely trio credibility and engages our empathy. There is a lot of talent in this little film and for a first movie writer/director Alan Brown gives notice of a talent to watch. In time some of the side indulgences included in this film will be less intrusive and more insightfully utilized. But on the whole this is a successful film worth watching. Grady Harp, April 05

A young married couple befriends a lonely teenage boy in an ice cream shop. As the friendship blossoms, romantic feelings develop between the wife and the boy. It's a provocative story with contemporary relevance. Withy a backdrop of New Age philosophy "Book Of Love" explores the impact of this unsettling romance on the three individuals.

The acting of the three leads is fine. But the screenplay is thin. Even with a runtime of just 83 minutes, there's just not that much substance. Director Alan Brown tries to draw a parallel between the wife's mistakes in judgment and the mistakes of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, a parallel that seems contrived at best. Further, the wife's involvement with the boy lacks a motivational basis, given her current marriage. And her behavior seems way too casual to be credible.

Nominated for an award at the Sundance Film Festival, "Book Of Love" at least tries to do something daring. It is low-key, and not at all exploitative. The background music is interesting. And, as a low budget film, the production values are credible. On the other hand, the script probably does not have enough conflict or plot complication to engage most viewers. The story seems too direct and too linear to be compelling.

The young couple Elaine Walker (Frances O'Connor) and the history teacher David Walker (Simon Baker) meets a fifteen years old lonely teenager Chet Becker (Gregory Smith) in an ice-cream shop and they become friends. David has a crush on Elaine and they have one night stand. Elaine tells her infidelity to David, and their life is affected by the affair.

When I saw the very low IMDb rating of "Book of Love", I questioned whether it would be worthwhile watching this movie. Fortunately I decided to see it, since it is a good romance, with some eroticism and a simple story, but a great and credible conclusion. I regret only the thirty-one minutes of trailers in the beginning of the VHS released in Brazil by California Filmes, probably a shameful worldwide record. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Traição" ("Betrayal")

This movie flows well; and particularly late at night, I found it very watchable. Its a bittersweet movie and ending. There's really not a plot per se, so no ending to really "spoil". I think there's confusion though as to what this movie is all about. Here's my thoughts. Adultery and its aftermath is essentially the theme of the movie. RE: the adultery. I don't believe it was anything premeditated, or planned in any way. I think the whole premise of this movie is that to demonstrate the conflicted and immature emotional levels of each of the 3 main characters. Chet for the first time finds true friendship in Dave and Elaine. As a pre-16 year old, his emotional immaturity finds him confusing his platonic feelings of friendship with eros, with Elaine. Elaine is obviously very flattered by the attention of a younger, virile young man. I think she's also conflicted with maternal feelings and desires. I think her response to Chet is very Oedipal in nature. Initially she "mothers" Chet, but succumbs to his physical advances in a weak moment. Dave doesn't really know how to respond to such an emotional and physical betrayal. He wants to do the right thing, to be a bigger man, but ultimately, the underlying tensions surface during the Disney World trip. Of the 3, Dave clearly is the one that ends up coping the least.

An engaging movie with excellent acting on the part of all the leads. The story, for the most part, unfolded wonderfully, deftly depicting the range and subtleties of the characters' emotions as the plot conflict developed. A lot was portrayed here that gives the viewer plenty to ponder. And then the end came...and the movie falls apart. It's not what happened at the that is necessarily bad; it's just that the movie, after carefully leading us through the drama, jumps to a conclusion so quickly (house sold, the character Dave parenting, Chet in Cambodia, etc.) that the resolution is very unconvincing, and left the end of the movie feeling like it had little significance with any of the rest of the story. Should have added another 30 minutes of credible storyline to make the ending fit.

I like a number of indie films, and this one started out with a lot to offer. It was headed for 8 or 9 star status in my book until the disconnected ending came along and diminished its otherwise fine story telling.

i really enjoyed the Book of Love, it was filled with emotion and the directing was wonderful. i saw it at Sundance and felt the acting included some of the best performances that i saw there. Simon Baker's performance was outstanding and definitely deserves recognition. the movie was also humorous and the music was amazing!! Clem Snide adds a great touch to the soundtrack and the placement of the songs in the movie really highlight key moments. I also thought the Book of Love was much more impressive and compelling than the similarly themed movie, The Door in the Floor. the ending was a realistic and thought provoking choice that did justice to the intelligence of the rest of the movie. i definitely recommend this movie!

First things first. So far this film has about an average vote of 3.5/10 stars on IMDb, which I think is kind of surprising, because it's not that bad. I expected about a 5 or 6 rating. Yes, it's muddled and kind of pointless at times, and the ending is pretentiously ambiguous. But as a character study -- despite it's flaws -- it is a rather effective one that manages to explore the love triangle between two older people and a younger teenager.

The movie's casual treatment of sexuality involving adults and a 15-year-old is kind of disturbing at first, but kudos to Alan Brown (director and writer) for getting away with it. He handles it right - it never nears exploitation - and as a result the story doesn't seem cheap and tacky like "Intimacy." However my problems lie with the script itself. It's got too many repetitive moments and some scenes are kind of wandering and make you say, "Huh?" The performances are alright. The only actor I recognized in the cast was Gregory Smith ("Small Soldiers"), playing a fifteen-year-old, which is kind of silly because he looks about 20 (at the least). I suppose they had problems with younger casting because of the love scenes between the leads.

Essentially the story centers around three people in a small town - a 30-something high school teacher, his wife, and a local kid - and how their friendship soon turns into something else. The kid has an affair with the wife, the husband finds out, and hatred forms.

It's an interesting movie because it's daring and different, but it has its flaws - a stronger script, better cast and more responsible and experienced director would result in a much better picture.

I saw this at a Slamdance Best Of screening in the East Village. I go to all their films there. This was an intelligent, quiet film with really great acting from all three leads. I liked it at first because it didn't try to push any messages or morals on me. Then I started to think about it afterward, and as time went by, it impressed me more and more. It seems to be about a lot of important things. It made me question how people behave and how I judge people. I hate to use the word 'haunting,' it sounds like a cliché, but the film did end up haunting me. I went out and rented other films with these actors (see Francis O'Conor in Mansfield Park!), and also found one by the director, a short called O Beautiful, which is also very good and (here I go again) 'haunting.' So, see if you have a chance.

Book Of Love (2004): Simon Baker, Frances O'Connor, Gregory Smith, Joanna Adler, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sabrina Grdevich, Beth MacDonald, Ari Graynor, Brett Tabor, Van Hughes, C.J. Aker, Michael Justice, Stephen Pollak, E.J. Scott..... Director Alan Brown, Screenplay Alan Brown.

"The book of love is long and boring, and written very long ago. It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes and things we're all too young to know".........

This little independent film, from director Alan Brown, explores the nature of a particular menage-a-trois relationship, or love triangle. Because the film is rather tame, slow and artsy, it falls under the category of independent film, perhaps even one that circulated in film festivals. It stars Simon Baker and Frances O'Connor as a married couple, both of them teachers, who welcome a young student(Gregory Smith) into their circle. David Walker (Baker) is a charismatic history teacher in a private school in the East Coast. He is happily married to Elaine (O'Connor) and they have opted not to have children and raise a family so that they can enjoy each other and the various projects they undertake, most of them being charitable deeds, educating the young in different parts of the world and so forth. When Chet (Smith) becomes a friend of these two, he gradually falls for Elaine and loses his virginity to her. This is what I think this film is all about - the loss of innocence and coming of age. It's surprising to see how the adults, too, are "discovering" themselves. After Elaine confesses to her husband that she and Chet have had a sexual encounter, he forgives her and even forgives Chet. They remain friends and in a bizarre way, it becomes like a sort of threesome/menage a trois (without the sex). But when Elaine mistakenly believes that Chet and her husband are having a homosexual affair of their own, she cannot cope or accept it. This leads to issues of mistrust, misunderstanding and the fact that these two have really had a fragile marriage to begin with. The mood of this film then takes on a more tragic tone, but that's the beauty of this film. It's very art-house, very modern and very engaging. If you can sit through a film like this, which requires a lot of dialogue, then you'll know that films like this are for you.It's a film about love and the complicated nature of relationships. If the actors had done a lousy job, the film would not have had any real poignancy, but considering the talented cast, the film becomes a really thought-provoking and dramatic vehicle. Great music, cinematography, good performances by the acting, a fine script and an interesting look at friendship, sex and experience.

romance, betrayal, history, choices. not remarkable and not so bad. only a common story with few fake moments but with a decent and almost moralistic end. the subject is not new and acting is not always convincing. the script - like a script who desires tell a story without great problems. short - about love and relationship. about dreams and the real life purpose. not boring. but old as idea. only good thing for me - references to Cambodgia. far to be nice. a film who can remains, as few drops in memory only for the cinnamon taste of last scenes. is it enough ? I do not know. but it is a nice opportunity to remember the past/the culture of a magnificent Asian country civilization

I was certainly surprised to see that so many IMDb reviews had given high ratings for this film. Personally, aside from the effectiveness of the feeling you get as you become involved with the characters (see below), I thought that the characters themselves were either annoying or completely stupid and that the movie itself, overall, lacked any novelty and really enough substance that, at least for me, would have me holding it in such high regard.

'Book of Love,' if nothing else certainly brings out the awkwardness of a couple distraught by one's extramarital affair (even if only brief). Do they just pretend nothing happened? Or, even if they try to deal with the situation, there is always that little reminder in the back of their heads that this person has slept with someone else...can they really be trusted anymore? 'Book of Love' at least does this much effectively, allowing us the vicarious uneasy feeling that at least the married couple seem to endure after the affairs is made known. As for everything else, however, the situation is neither knew and there is relatively little substance to deal with (which may explain why we stroll through scenes habitual nonsense like those of Simon Baker urinating or some moments with Gregory Smith).

This is the story of a young couple (Frances O'Connor and Simon Baker) who befriend a fifteen-year old kid from the neighborhood (Gregory Smith). The story is simple: the wife, not at all seductive in the way we may picture a voluptuous Mrs. Robinson type, has an affair with the boy. There is relatively little to suggest that there was any kind of rift between O'Conner and Baker's character from the beginning, so what reason she may have for submitting to the boy (other than oddly being aroused by his skinny body one afternoon in the ice cream shop), she has an affair with him. She later admits this to her husband and the rest of the movie is the three of these people trying to restore things to some kind of normalcy that existed before the mess happened.

But, there is too much unbelievability and not enough sound reason, for the affair to have happened in the first place. Was she just bored? Stupid? And really, what the hell did she think was going to happen when she told her husband? And, why was Gregory Smith's character all of a sudden aware that he'd done something wrong only when the wife tells him that she confessed to her husband? How idiotic.

And then, in that sort of 'Dreamers' or 'Y Tu Mama Tambien' way, to throw this story into a parallel with bits of history about the Khmer Rouge of Cambodia (Baker's character is a history teacher at an all-girls school).

Nonetheless, the rest of the film is these three characters existing in a very strange relationship, probably with Baker's being the most permanently removed, Gregory Smith being the one to pretend that nothing happened and that everything will probably be okay (or at least have the presence of such), while the wife seems to be mad at the husband for forcing the three of them together again and throwing it in her face.

There isn't a whole lot there. None of the characters are all that interesting and in the end, I came away from it with an almost indifference for the story and characters. What's the big deal? And yet, while some did criticize this film as being the worst that Sundance had to offer that year (I would agree), many did praise it. To my fellow IMDb reviewers: it is not sacrilegious to admit that an Indie film (even one from Sundance) is not great. Not even good. This one included.

some of this movie confused me I admit, and sometimes it took me a while (a short while!) to catch up with it. By that I mean, there were things I didn't always figure out right away, and I would be thinking, why? or what? or when? --- BUT then I stopped worrying and just went with it, and sat back and enjoyed it. And THEN I just got completely engrossed by all the actors and actresses. And I believed all of them. I thought these were real people, and I was so emotionally attached to them and involved. And at times, emotionally devastated by what they did or what happened to them. So in the end, when I walked out of the movie theater (I saw this at Two Boots in the East Village), I was actually a bit shaken up and feel disquieted, if that is the right word. It is actually an upsetting movie, and I mean that as a compliment. I could see it again and would like to so I could think more about these people and what they did and why.

OK- Watched it twice to see if I missed any hidden agenda with this film. Ummm, NO. It is just really bad acting on the part of the actress playing the wife. It overall just stunk up the TV screen. I thought that the movie was too predictable. And I did not understand the boy having to recite the ice cream flavors to wife. It was just very strange. In the end they get a divorce- Not really how I imagined it going since after finding out of the affair- the husband has intercourse with the wife. I liked in the end, Chet shows up in Cambodia with Heather, the student pining for Mr. Walker. But then , someone steps on a landmine and gets blown apart... And Curtain.

I saw this film at Sundance and came away thinking that this is one of the most amateurish, joyless films I have seen in years. I actually enjoyed the set up and was hoping that there were be more humor injected into film. But then I realized that only the love scenes are laughable. Ms O'Connor is given an interesting role and is a breath of fresh air in the film. Acting is competent if perfunctory. Hopefully director will go back to doing plays.

All three principal actors - Baker, O'Connor, and Smith, gave the strongest performances I've ever seen them give. Baker particularly should be a major star. He was heartbreaking in Book of Love. What I also liked was that the writer and director refused to judge his characters and their behavior. And that he trusted us, the audience, enough to let us make our own decisions. Unlike most Hollywood - and Sundance - movies, he refused to wrap things up neatly at the end for us. A strong, intelligent film. Highly recommended.

I also saw the film at Sundance and cannot fathom that someone would have reacted against the well-made, dark, and deep film. It wasn't meant to be a comedy, but instead an introspective and moving look at three characters all on the edge of something. Baker, O'Connor, and Smith were all fantastic...probably the best work I've seen Baker do. It reminded me a lot of American Beauty - yes, the humor may have been a little more idiosyncratic and less laugh out loud, but I certainly smiled to myself throughout the film, both as I realized how attached I'd become to the characters and what a fine movie it was. The way Brown weaved the Cambodian backstory into the film, through Baker, Howard, and the overarching visual images, was also notable for its inspired creativity.

a bitter one. because , the film propose a provocative moral lesson. correct, not real original, but seductive. a meet between a young man and a couple. the storm, the revelation of crisis, the only reasonable choice. and Cambodgia. not the most convincing performances and a simple story. and few hot scenes. a secret. and the answer who escapes the film from platitude. without be an admirer of it, "Book of love" is a reasonable good film. for questions, for Gregory Smith work, for the exploration, in beautiful manner, of the temptation, sin and the force of secret.

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 liked the characters at first.

But then, sometime during the "night on the town" scene's syrupy music, I kept thinking the director must have been kidding. Most of that lightweight content should have ended up on the cutting-room floor. (Sigh, eject) Is there really an audience who likes the content spelled-out to that extent? Perhaps there is. I wish someone could have warned me not to hire this DVD. As a public service. I must admit I choose my films by the laurel-logos of "Academy Award" or "Nominated for best ...xxx", whereas I avoid testimonials like "Thumbs up" or "A rollicking tale." I now know that "Official Selection ..Sundance" is no guarantee of quality viewing. We live and learn.

I'm in love with here. she's great in this (and wears a school girl uniform!), and so are all the other actors, like Greg Smith from Everwood, and the guardian guy, Simon Baker. So, the story really surprised me and sort of weirded me out in a good way (but I won't tell it here so as not to spoil it). But you should see it. It's completely engrossing and lots of strange twists and turns. and it's got the best music - magnetic fields and others. It was definitely an odd film, something i don't see everyday, and maybe if i'd seen a review (has this been in the theaters yet?), I would not have gone. but I'm very glad i saw it. Everyone in it is talented, and it was fun to watch. And listen to. definitely worth a look.

This is another poor concept indie film with songs that distract tossed in. Songs with untalented voices. The film's style gets in its own way. Each scene is way too long. This is the result of a cheap and in-experienced director who is afraid to do editing. Almost every scene needs 1/3 to 1/2 of it cut out. This is not a genre, this is simply bad film-making. Total over use of songs, that makes you reach for the fast-forward button. The story comes across like a half-baked 5 minute short film, with no real ending to it. Instead of focusing on the story line first and make it great, it was simply made longer and the result is very boring. When John Cleese talks about writing the great 1/2 hour Fawlty Towers, he and co-writer Connie Booth spent six week writing each show. They spent 2-3 weeks on just one the plot. This film is totally absent of this kind of attention to deal, hoping that the audience will somehow be confused with the dragged out scenes thinking it is some sort of genre. You find yourself asking yourself what this story is to be about or if there even is a story. The characters, even the husband and wife barely bond together. The two women, they don't come across as a couple really either. When you take a bad story, bad music, bad direction, bad editing and the wrong casting, you end up with a film like this.

This movie was okay. The story line is just very far fetched. Basically, the movie is about a possibly newly married couple (this part is vague they keep referencing their Cambodian honeymoon)who befriend a teenage boy who lives in a dysfunctional home. Passions ensue between the young man and the wife and the story goes from there. Anyway, Frances O' Conner playing a 27, or excuse me just turned 28 year old is laughable. She is so clearly in her mid to late thirties. The characters lack any depth and you don't feel sorry for them or connect with them at any level. There is really no chemistry between any of the characters. Although Simon Baker is gorgeous to watch. If there are slim pick-ins' at the movie store you might want to pick up this flick.

who selects the movies for sundance?!! who funds these movies?!! i can't even begin to go into the story problems and the believability that an adult woman would be smitten enough with a 15 yr old over ice cream to f*** him! the story has no foundation so everything that happens after is meaningless...

it all begins in the writing and then it is up to the director to make a movie that makes us care. i didn't get to know these character's so i didn't care about them. what is the story? what do these people want? what is the theme here? or is this just another generation x'er attempt at something deep?

to all you young filmmaker's...go watch some bergman...some malle...some ...fellini...kurosiwa...some bertolucci, for Christ's sake if you are interested in writing and directing something provocative. go learn something first.

i give it 2 stars because in truth...i have seen worse. enough said.

I did not, could not understand the motel wrestling scene. If the young man was physically excited, showing it, why? Was he interested in Simon Baker as well as the wife? Then why did he stab him with the scissors. Then walking in 'Cambodia', who stepped on the mine, was it the bicyclist? or someone else? Why was the young boy with the girl who had a crush on the professor (Simon Baker). Too many unanswered questions for me to enjoy it. It seemed a little far fetched that a professor in a private school could purchase three rt tickets to Disney with his salary. If the wife contributed to the family bank account, then understandable, but I do not think this was mentioned. At the end, why was he living alone in the studio apt? Was he content to live as 'male nanny'?

I wondered if anyone knew who sang as well as the name of the song, at the conclusion of the film where she is spinning in the yoga room and he eats ice cream. It begins something along the lines of, no one's more happy than you even the sky is feeling blue... I tried looking it up but couldn't find it. The closest I came was Joy Division but I don't know.It is killing me!

I really liked it, I have seen it two and a half times and I just finished watching it on cable and really much prefer it now. I really enjoyed the undercurrents of the movie, although the main actress whose name escapes me, I found really annoying, not the character but her. The only part I liked of her was when she sang Book Of Love in the club, lovely voice, whether that was her or not.

Thank you