X's & O's (2007)

Thanks for the memories!

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

For an indie film, X's & O's shatters the stereotype of the genre doing away with long drawn out expositions, pretentious dialogue, and contrived plot points. Shot on 35mm film, the movie captures a warmth and realness often lost on DV. From the opening shot, the movie moves quickly, introducing you to your primary characters and the various relationships that make up the core of the movie. Shot on location in San Francisco and the surrounding bay area, X's and O's explores the all-too-real difficulties of relationship dynamics, using the SF bay as a microcosm of the world. The characters who make up these relationships are so robust and three dimensional that you will find yourself identifying with at least one of them, and knowing friends who make up the rest of the cast. Eschewing Hollywood's formula of fate, chance meetings, destiny, the world conspiring against the lovebirds to live happily ever after, and the eventual happily ever after despite the world conspiracy, X's & O's looks at romance as the little things in the relationship, and the work you have to put into it to make it work. There is no sappy dialogue or overly dramatic emotional moments. There is conflict, self-contradictions, redemption, disappointments, growth, change, humor, self-realizations -- few of the many little things that are embodied in real relationships. X's & O's is a movie that doesn't disillusion you to fantasize about Hollywood's happily ever after. Instead, it suggests that though your relationship may not be the perfect Hollywood romance, if you are able to watch this movie and enjoy it with your significant other, that's your happily ever after.

I saw X and O first UCSD at bear room. I was in to it. Rented it to see at home. Simon (Clayne Crawford) could rival Shia Labeouf. This actor has skills of skills. I don't vibe these type of movies in any fashion or form. This is different. A friend of a friend of friend got me to look at it at UCSD. It is a crazy world. Not to break a way from X and O as a movie. I LOVED THE POETRY. Trisa Edmonson and Shelly Royce had some thing to say worth damn saying. Good damn poetry grabs you on the shoulder. I was grabbed. Last but not least was how bleeping good it looked. It wasn't a cheeseball looking movie. Movie folks out there laying low keep your eye on Clayne Crawford.

I was one of the few people who had the opportunity to watch a screening of this magnificent Romantic comedy called X's and O's and I can attest that it kept me entertained from the beginning to the end. Unlike most Romantic Comedies, X's and O's surpasses the stereotypical romance comedies that are shoved in our faces on a daily basis. This isn't a chick flick and it isn't a macho flick. X's and O's delivers something that most romantic comedies don't. It targets both sexes! So instead of being dragged to a chick flick like Sex In The City or to a macho flick such as Rambo, both male and female can sit down and enjoy a movie together that will not only entertain you but leave you with some good conversation afterward. You want the perfect movie to pop in the DVD player (in some cases Blu-Ray) and watch on your first date? X's and O's should be your first choice. Yes, X's and O's is a independent film however it's been directed, written, produced and edited as if it were a high budget film. Check out X's and O's if your willing to watch a good indie flick worthy to be called "Good"

Generally speaking, I thought this was a really enjoyable movie, it looked good, the cast was good and overall it was a very good job. I have two negative comments (that's good for me!) - first of all, there were moments in the film, particularly in the card-playing scene, where the songs were either too loud or not right for the scene and this detracted from the movie.The other thing was, the last scene, what was the point of that? I thought the ending should have been right where Lorenzo walks away, talking to Jane on the phone - the bit after seemed too contrived to give us some kind of sentimental ending, at least I think that's what it was, either way it was surplus to requirements.But for those two minor criticisms I would definitely have voted the movie an 8 or more.