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.
Review of Book of Love
