X's & O's (2007)

Fresh and Exciting

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

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.

A waste of time. Watching ice melt is probably more interesting. 1 commentator said was not 'chick flick' but that is the only redemption I can see is that women may like this film.The notion that Lorenzo, who is getting lots of women, is tortured over his inability to find a lasting relationship is pure female fantasy. Lorenzo is in his late 20s. If Lorenzo was in his his late 30s or more it might be credible.Also the emasculation of Jimmy was not credible.The biggest problem with the movie besides nothing interesting happening is I just kept wondering why I am suppose to care about these characters.Very ordinary people who I might be friends with in real life but they are not my friends, and I wouldn't want to watch a movie about any of my friends since they are ordinary people. Watching I just keep thinking I don't care about these people and there is no compelling reason for me to care about them.

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'swatch this movie !

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.