User reviews

The victim, Linda, who ends up married to the guy did not say in this documentary that she loved the man who paid someone to disfigure her and then years later married her. He disfigured her face, her beautiful eyes and ruined her life as much as possible without actually killing her. To me it is obvious he is a narcissist because he never really admits any GUILT over ANY of his BAD VERY BAD actions. Dating her when he was married, obviously he's about 8-9 years older than her. She never had sex with him, and it was 'hinted' but not stated outright that finally in her mid-30s after she'd been disfigured she was planning to lose her virginity, finally! to another guy, but when that guy saw her eyes not hidden behind dark glasses, he freaked. The one man she thought loved her (not Burt) broke off their engagement after she got out of the hospital after the acid attack. This woman was STRONG WILLED. To be blind to the point where she could only see light/dark and 'shapes' and yet walk to work, in a big city, without a seeing eye dog or even a white cane, shows her strength. But by the time Burt got out of jail, Linda had been single, and living alone, for years. She had no one, no money, barely surviving in a one-room 'apartment'. AND there's Burt, still relentlessly telling her he loves her, and asking for her forgiveness. So she has a love/hate relationship with him, what's new about that? She tells him 'if you love me send me money'... and although he was still in jail at the time, he was selling his lawyering services to the inmates and two weeks later she's got a certified check from him for $4,000.00... in early 1970-71. That was BIG money for that time. Enough time has passed that she has 'gotten over' what he did to her, as much as one could, and she no longer hates him. Hate is a strong emotion, and very draining, just like infatuation. (I think infatuation, not love, is the flip side of hate.) So he's out of jail, paid his 'debt to society' (as he said) and she wants some respite from her life of not-much. So she marries him. Odd, maybe, but not 'weird'. She doesn't love him, and he, purportedly, does love her (in his narcissistic way). I understand why she married him. Although he never stopped being a liar/cheat (he's a narcissist), he does seem to take care of her, and finally, that's better than living alone, struggling to survive financially with an overwe'ening sense of loneliness. Maybe his punishment is having to take care of the woman he supposedly loved and yet injured so seriously. Who knows. Life is short and difficult. So she took comfort from her enemy. Move along, people, nothing (new) to see here. Very well done documentary! I was surprised it kept my interest, but it did.

Entertaining and mildly provoking film documents the weird highs and strange lows associated with a decades-long bizarre courtship of one Linda Pugach by her mildly insane husband Burt. Simultaneously amusing and depressing, the progressively ridiculous reality these two ill-fated lovers found themselves in is enough to warrant viewing. Making great use of archival footage, the filmmakers really hit their stride near the end, when laying out the skewed romantic timelessness which pervades the Pugach's interactions. The film does take some time to build viewer interest (supposing you were too young to remember this in the headlines) but when it does get particularly interesting near the end, rarely does studying the brilliant intricacies of human irony feel more poetic.

I'm reminded of the line from a Chris Rock special where he's talking about gay people should be allowed to married and "be as miserable as everybody else." How about passive-aggressive? One may try and pin-point Burt Pugach as being such, though he's not the easiest sort of character to crack. Or, maybe he is: a pioneer in the field of ambulance chasers, he laid eyes on a woman one day in the late 50s in the Bronx and knew he had to have her. She wasn't that easy, albeit he was pretty rich as a lawyer/movie producer, and had all sorts of nifty objects. But, low and behold, he was really married, and once found out kept stalling on getting divorced. Why exactly I'm sure only Burt, and his eventual ex-wife, could say, but it lead down a path of one of the most bizarre cases of 'tainted love' one could ever find: blindness by acid, jail-time, near poverty, and finally a strange reconciliation and marriage between stalker and stalkee.

If you don't know the tale of the Pugach's, as I did, some of this may come as something of a surprise (the glasses Linda wears, at first, seems like a simple fashion gimmick, until the real reason comes out- and sight of her eyes as they are today), but what makes the film work best is seeing it as a surreal human interest story. Like Capturing the Friedmans, you'll leave the theater or finish watching at home and it will get you talking not so much in a gossip kind of way as the newspapers originally made it out to be as a huge story (the kind that, had it come out today, would be probably the only news for a week on the cable channels), but as if these people are almost like characters in a movie. How could Burt's first wife stand all this, or even marry him? Didn't Linda know that Burt could go one step further following her engagement to Larry Schwartz? How could the two of them stay together even after there was ANOTHER big charge put against Burt in the 90s with another woman claiming damages? All these questions, and more, may be prevalent, but in the end it doesn't matter too much.

What Crazy Love is is sincere entertainment, where there's real truth in it- the circumstances following Linda's blindness, leading to a sort of existential crisis leading up to Burt, mostly for the money, truth be further told- and lots of dark humor as well. It may be a little exploitive perhaps, but seeing photos of Burt in the 70s after getting out of prison are some of the most demented photos, I've ever seen of a man, with his beard looking like what a character playing the devil might wear (not that he is the devil, just a, well, lying ambulance chaser). There's also some humility in seeing how, in a way, the marriage that Burt and Linda ended up in may not be too far removed, in seeing them on screen anyway, from how people you know might act- which is a level of discontentment and misery, but also the feeling that things can't get much worse.

It's not a great documentary, as sometimes the editing is a little jerky, and the last transition from previously cool songs to a mopey ballad the couple dance to is not good at all. But it's got many qualities that make it very watchable- unpredictability (or predictability, depending on point of view or knowledge of the material), a real sense of time and place (great Bronx locations), and two people and their friends and witnesses who can attest to the biggest puzzle of them all: how could they get back together after what happened?

The nice thing about this story is that it doesn't show what it pretends to--that with age comes wisdom. It shows that demented people are walking around us all the time and you can even be married to one so stay awake and never sleep while dating. Burt is a sociopath with psychopathic tendencies. Linda is a lovely girl who is stuck on herself. It's a union made in Hell. He is pretty much unrepentant after disfiguring her, but supposedly still in love with her (huh-Brooklynese)! She is frightened out of her mind but still able to be wooed by him (her ego demands satisfaction). He is a known whore, she's a tease. It's inevitable that people like this are drawn to each other in life. The only remorse he shows is in getting old. He's upset that he has no cachet anymore, not that he frigged up a woman's life. Their faces reveal the delight at being able to 'tell their stories' after all these years and that anyone would care enough to watch. We have become the ultimate voyeurs. Most of the friends, family, witnesses are elderly boozed out/smoked out floozies and pimps. It could have cult status. It's a film that ought to have been made by John Waters. Watch it knowing that these people have lived and learned nothing. Watch it knowing that though you'll try, you probably will NEVER reach beyond your high school mentality. Who you are in h.s. is basically who you are the rest of your life regardless of career, style, money, etc. A thug is a thug is a thug. A cheerleader is a cheerleader is an old cheerleader.

The bizarre true story of Linda Riss and Burt Pugach.

Manohla Dargis of the New York Times called the film "somewhat sickening, mildly gonzo" and added, "Crazy Love takes a mildly hyperventilated approach to its subject; there's a hint of tabloid sensationalism, a splash of kitsch sentimentalism." This is all very true and it is just an incredible story overall, bringing in William Kunstler, the Attica Riot, and other events in the history of New York. Was this a story that will make the history books? No. But it is among the strangest true crime stories ever to occur, and luckily somewhat was clever enough to track down all the interested parties for posterity.

Interesting story about obsessive "love". Definitely a start to modern stalking legislation. But, at the end I was asking myself what the heck did I just watch.

This may be the most amazing true-life documentary I've ever seen. If it wasn't all true, I'd never believe it. Who would? This is an insane "love story," and it really happened. Ask the citizens of New York City who lived through this tabloid story. I'm sure they couldn't believe it, either, but it was headline news in their area for quite a while.

I hesitate to say too much for those who haven't watched this, but I highly recommend this DVD. The filmmakers did an outstanding job in presenting all the major figures in this fascinating tale of twisted lovers....and "twisted" is putting it mildly, especially in regard to the chief male: Burt Pugach, who is one of the most despicable no-conscience people I've ever seen. If you have a low opinion of lawyers, you'll really appreciate this story! The female part of this bizarre "love" story is Linda Riis. She's the first person you see on camera and, from the first sentence on, you think incredulously "who is this?!" The weird sunglasses, eyebrows, obvious wig and brutally-frank New York directness and accent hits you like a truck. Her story, and from her perspective, is the most amazing of them all. Everyone else that follows - Burt and Linda's friends and associates - are almost as riveting. These are all real people, not actors.

Trust me: you have to see this to believe it. If crazy people, obsession, romance, crime, loneliness, comedy, etc., are all something you find entertaining, this documentary has all of it. It might also disgust you that human beings can be so pathetic.

I couldn't stop shaking my head in disbelief after this watching this documentary. Kudos to everyone involved in this film for a job very well done.

This documentary was an oddly strange "love" story. However I did get distracted from the story by the overt racism. It was a bit much.

Pugach was completely insane.

An absolutely riveting documentary about two of the strangest people I've met on film. Such an interesting look into the obsessive side of relationships. I saw it at Sundance and was floored. Complex characters brought to life through masterful use of archival footage. It speaks volumes about the lengths people will go to 'have someone'. Clearly made with subtlety and skill by a talented group of filmmakers. Proves once again that real life is so much more interesting than the vast majority of fiction we see on the big screen. Hopefully the version for television isn't a shorter version as you need time to understand the complexities. Don't miss this film...

I watched a lot of true crime stuff so Crazy Love kept coming up on Netflix. I'm old enough to have recalled this couple when they made the rounds of all the talk shows, but I honestly didn't remember the story at all. It's a very well done documentary with terrific musical selections from the time and for the subject - which just gets worse and worse as it goes along.

We hear the story of a jealous suitor saying "if I can't have you nobody can" and instead of someone dead or in jail we get these two who managed to make it work for them! It's jaw-dropping, and sad that they could financially succeed because of this twisted fame they've achieved.

How either of them would be willing to be interviewed let alone essentially host a home movie of their lives is beyond me. The man is clearly a narcissist from the outset and unabashed liar. He tells you that. She was his victim, but managed at least to cash in on it.

There is racism, misogyny and an old white guy who doesn't know enough not to use the n word. There is no getting around the fact that they would not be sitting where they are now if he hadn't been a rich white lawyer. And I don't think being Jewish in NYC hurt him either.

So if you like true crime without dead bodies that is very evocative of the times, give it a watch and prepare to be appalled.

This film was pretty heavily hyped and garnered some very good reviews on the TV movie review shows ("Ebert & Roeper") so I was expecting a top-notch documentary. Unfortunately, as another reviewer stated it would have made a decent "Court TV" (or "Dateline or Oxygen True Crime") episode and that's about it.

The film takes its time getting to where it wants to go and when it finally gets to its pay-off, there isn't that much of a surprise. Many people in abusive relationships are there due to their own inability to see how mentally messed up they are. That's not much of a revelation.

(I wish the filmmakers would have delved more into Burt's marriage to his first wife. Perhaps she is dead so the filmmakers couldn't get her perspective on this crime. It would have made a more fully realized movie if they had.)

When I first encountered the story of Burt and Linda Pugach, some many years ago, in the paper back edition of Burt's biography, what I read on the cover I simply could not believe. At first I thought it was a novel, some kind of elaborate publishing hoax with a rather sick premise, but gradually I came to realize this was for real. I didn't buy the book, I confess. I treated it like it was radioactive and after a few minutes I put gingerly in back on the rack thinking: no good can come from this. But, I never forgot the essence of the story. What did it say about them, us, everyone? So when the documentary was finally made I jumped at the chance to see it.

The DVD is probably the way to go with this story, not watching it in theaters. It is just to intimate, in all the senses of the word, a tale. Watch it all, cut scenes, features etc. Most of all, make sure you listen to the commentary track. At the end, you will then be able decide for yourself. Personally, I think the documentary did their story as fairly and as in depth as could be done. It really is an outstanding achievement. It frustrates some people however because it must seem the truth is missing: this story is so off the scale, so far beyond "Freudian," that while it is tempting to make psychological assessments, don't. The overwhelming majority of people are not competent to do so -- I'm certainly not -- and one would advise against it in any event. Here are two people who themselves probably, even after fifty years of living with the story, have no idea what really happened. But they are living whatever it was, and that is all they or we need to know.

As for Burt, he remains one scary dude, as the director himself would find out first hand, yet one cannot help but respect him, in a way. He is a survivor with a strong element of luck in his life, if that is correct way to put it. He certainly suffered, both before and after his crime, but whether he suffered enough I leave to others to judge. He's smart, resourceful, and in a word indeed "obsessed." "Determined" doesn't quite seem to say it about Burt. For someone who is 80, he comes across as sharp and tough as ever. Given all that he has been through and all that he has done, this is no small accomplishment.

I should point out that Burt does at times appear callous and indifferent to Linda's blindness (a point the director himself makes in the commentary), but I can't help but wonder if he simply does not see Linda as she is now, but only sees her as she was in the late 1950's. The documentary seems to come to that conclusion as well. Love is blind, in more ways than one. Certainly forgiveness is, if it is to be worthy of the name.

As for Linda, she's an old-fashioned girl who was saving herself for the right monster and one day Mr. Wrong did come along. Nevertheless, I confess I like her. She is obviously quite talented, intelligent, witty and every bit Burt's match in toughness. But as with Burt, I'm relieved I never had to interact with either of them. I care for them both, however, and certainly one of the most amazing things about "Crazy Love" is the degree we come to view both of them as human beings. This is not a freak show. There is so much suffering in the world if these two people can hold on to some measure of happiness given their history, then more power to them. I think as a viewer, you can't help but hope the best for them and at the end of the film wonder what will happen to the other when either of them dies.

"Crazy Love" again shows us just how compelling real people and situations can be when compared to their fictional counterparts. The screenwriter has not yet been born who could come up with such a detailed, character-rich, period-to-present story. Simply outrageous, you can smell the ink of the old New York tabloids wafting from the screen. This film is endlessly entertaining, fascinating, scary, funny, familiar, confusing and confounding. I think that New Yorkers will find the film and it's tone particularly interesting. The stock footage and stills are outdone only by the amazing Bronx/Brooklyn-ese accents whining from this quirky but genuine group. Think of it, single scandalous crime whose layers have been evolving and unfolding for 50 years now. A must see!

So well done, capturing the above-ground kind of rationale that tries to exculpate horrible behavior as normalcy. This showcases the kind of hat trick that attempts to make apartheid and brutality acceptable, rationale behavior. Sadly, accepted in certain cultural circles but nonetheless is still unequivocal evil. This should be used to illustrate and teach how pathology and selfishness can be romanticized as mythic. Truly- love does not conquer all nor does it excuse the means to the end. It is stunning that this man was not identified as the sociopath that he is and permanently removed from society.

If you ask me - Crazy Love (from 2007) has got to be one of the most vile, demented and truly sickening "real-life" Romeo & Juliet stories ever told.

Crazy Love was the kind of moronic "love" story that could only happen (where else, but) in America. This fast-food, tabloid-mentality documentary was about as American as is the grotesque reek of McDonalds' restaurants.

I certainly view both Linda Riss and Burt Pugach as being nothing but a revolting pair of white-trash, publicity seekers who really-really-really deserved each other (till they both turned to rot in hell, wrapped in each other's cold, reptilian embrace).

Riss and Pugach (and their nauseating "love" affair) were the ultimate in sickening garbage. And for them to gloat about it and re-tell all of the sordid, blow-by-blow details of this despicable "on-again/off-again" relationship (in this documentary) was like putting this thoroughly disgusted viewer through the hideous torture of "The Rack" for 90 solid minutes.

I was made aware of this film after watching on Philoctetesctr round table discussion: "Crazy Love: Who's Tormenting Whom?". The director Dan Klores and a panel of illustrious psychoanalysts were present. There was a lively discussion that I found interesting.

Concerning the film, I do not believe it was well made. The director, being a nice man, however did not have a clue how to develop the characters. He was just scratching the surface with superficial description of who they were. The documentary does not rise above the level of newspaper article and film medium was not appreciably exploited. Burt and Linda are both quite unattractive people, only desirous of possessions: Burt wanted Linda and Linda wanted anybody, preferably rich. She would only market her virginity to the highest bidder after all legal documents are sealed. She's so infinitely boring. Burt is a pathological liar, therefore very good and successful attorney, an inventor of the ambulance chase. Once he decided he wants something, he'll get it, even through murder or mutilation. The pair is quite a condemnation of American bourgeois of 1950s. I think (and hope) that this social mentality already died out. All the ideas you get after viewing this film, if any, you will generate on your own, without the assistance of the film, and you will need quite a bit of imagination to do so.

If not for Philoctetes round table discussion this would've been complete waste of time. In the future I will avoid films directed by (or associated with) Dan Klores.