X's & O's

The thing that struck me about this movie the most was how real the dialogue and landscape felt to me. I grew up in the Bay and all of the scenes really evoked a feeling of being in the bay. I felt like this movie tackled the angst of being a young person trying to figure out what love is amidst our unpredictable world, while at the same time trying to find our ways within it all. The cool thing is, Korde and his cast did this in a way that was humorous and not preachy at all. I laughed out loud many times and even had my eyes well up a bit at scenes that i related to my own life. The soundtrack is awesome. The actors did a great job! I really enjoyed this film. Funny, romantic, heartfelt, hip.

X's and O's

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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.

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 had the chance to preview this movie earlier this year. Being labeled as a movie to entertain both sexes, I was a bit reluctant to watch it. I have been sucked into the romantic-dramady many times by being told it was made for all of us. SO, that being said, I was ready to be let down yet again. My final verdict….This was most definitely NOT a chick flick!!! The chemistry on screen between the actors was exceptional and the story was well thought out and lacked the usual bits of downtime. You know the type of movie that I'm referring to. Where you have 30 minutes of intense plot that leads up to 45 minutes of insane fumbling where the writers couldn't think of anything original to fill the time, Only to end in an unbelievable climax in the last 10 minutes of the film….This was not that movie! For once I was surprised at the twists and turns this plot took and the ending was up in the air until the final minute. I found myself relating to several of the characters and actually rooting for several of them in the end. I can't say if I have seen a more clever debut for a director,(The next Kevin Smith?!?). Low budget but High in quality!

I absolutely loved this movie. The characters are so real, I feel like I know someone just like the ones in this movie, every single one of them. I don't want to give way the ending but, I haven't seen a more realistic and matter of factish movie in this genre yet. It's hilarious, it has negative shades, twists and turns that you would not expect! I don't even know which "box" I should put this movie into. Is it comedy? romantic? drama? suspense? But isn't life just like that too? What box would you put your life into? Is your life a comedy? tragedy? suspense? drama?... Now you know what I am talking about. This movie is just as real as life can get! Very well made!