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Book of Love

  • 2004
  • R
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Book of Love (2004)
ComedyDrama

Living among fusty academics, an unusual young man gets between a high school history teacher and his wife.Living among fusty academics, an unusual young man gets between a high school history teacher and his wife.Living among fusty academics, an unusual young man gets between a high school history teacher and his wife.

  • Director
    • Alan Brown
  • Writer
    • Alan Brown
  • Stars
    • Frances O'Connor
    • Simon Baker
    • Gregory Smith
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    1.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alan Brown
    • Writer
      • Alan Brown
    • Stars
      • Frances O'Connor
      • Simon Baker
      • Gregory Smith
    • 28User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos23

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    Top cast19

    Edit
    Frances O'Connor
    Frances O'Connor
    • Elaine Walker
    Simon Baker
    Simon Baker
    • David Walker
    Gregory Smith
    Gregory Smith
    • Chet Becker
    Bryce Dallas Howard
    Bryce Dallas Howard
    • Heather
    Joanna Adler
    Joanna Adler
    • Melissa
    • (as Joanna P. Adler)
    Sabrina Grdevich
    Sabrina Grdevich
    • Lilian
    Ari Graynor
    Ari Graynor
    • Naomi
    Beth MacDonald
    • Yoga Instructor
    Brett Tabor
    • Coach
    Van Hughes
    Van Hughes
    • Swimmer #1
    C.J. Aker
    • Swimmer #2
    • (as CJ Aker)
    Sherie Melby
    • Swim Team Supporter
    William Declan Rexer
    • Baby
    EJ Scalzi
    EJ Scalzi
    • Bartender…
    Brendan Bradley
    Brendan Bradley
    • Swimmer
    • (uncredited)
    Tiana Idoni-Matthews
    • Student
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Justice
    Michael Justice
    • Swim Team
    • (uncredited)
    Stephen Pollak
    • Swimmer #3
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alan Brown
    • Writer
      • Alan Brown
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews28

    5.41.8K
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    Featured reviews

    5holliman-1

    Okay movie....mildly entertaining

    This movie was okay. The story line is just very far fetched. Basically, the movie is about a possibly newly married couple (this part is vague they keep referencing their Cambodian honeymoon)who befriend a teenage boy who lives in a dysfunctional home. Passions ensue between the young man and the wife and the story goes from there. Anyway, Frances O' Conner playing a 27, or excuse me just turned 28 year old is laughable. She is so clearly in her mid to late thirties. The characters lack any depth and you don't feel sorry for them or connect with them at any level. There is really no chemistry between any of the characters. Although Simon Baker is gorgeous to watch. If there are slim pick-ins' at the movie store you might want to pick up this flick.
    9markben

    A very cool movie that grew on me.

    I saw this at a Slamdance Best Of screening in the East Village. I go to all their films there. This was an intelligent, quiet film with really great acting from all three leads. I liked it at first because it didn't try to push any messages or morals on me. Then I started to think about it afterward, and as time went by, it impressed me more and more. It seems to be about a lot of important things. It made me question how people behave and how I judge people. I hate to use the word 'haunting,' it sounds like a cliché, but the film did end up haunting me. I went out and rented other films with these actors (see Francis O'Conor in Mansfield Park!), and also found one by the director, a short called O Beautiful, which is also very good and (here I go again) 'haunting.' So, see if you have a chance.
    6claudio_carvalho

    Underrated Romance

    The young couple Elaine Walker (Frances O'Connor) and the history teacher David Walker (Simon Baker) meets a fifteen years old lonely teenager Chet Becker (Gregory Smith) in an ice-cream shop and they become friends. David has a crush on Elaine and they have one night stand. Elaine tells her infidelity to David, and their life is affected by the affair.

    When I saw the very low IMDb rating of "Book of Love", I questioned whether it would be worthwhile watching this movie. Fortunately I decided to see it, since it is a good romance, with some eroticism and a simple story, but a great and credible conclusion. I regret only the thirty-one minutes of trailers in the beginning of the VHS released in Brazil by California Filmes, probably a shameful worldwide record. My vote is six.

    Title (Brazil): "Traição" ("Betrayal")
    eastcoastguyz

    Another poor concept indie film

    This is another poor concept indie film with songs that distract tossed in. Songs with untalented voices. The film's style gets in its own way. Each scene is way too long. This is the result of a cheap and in-experienced director who is afraid to do editing. Almost every scene needs 1/3 to 1/2 of it cut out. This is not a genre, this is simply bad film-making. Total over use of songs, that makes you reach for the fast-forward button. The story comes across like a half-baked 5 minute short film, with no real ending to it. Instead of focusing on the story line first and make it great, it was simply made longer and the result is very boring. When John Cleese talks about writing the great 1/2 hour Fawlty Towers, he and co-writer Connie Booth spent six week writing each show. They spent 2-3 weeks on just one the plot. This film is totally absent of this kind of attention to deal, hoping that the audience will somehow be confused with the dragged out scenes thinking it is some sort of genre. You find yourself asking yourself what this story is to be about or if there even is a story. The characters, even the husband and wife barely bond together. The two women, they don't come across as a couple really either. When you take a bad story, bad music, bad direction, bad editing and the wrong casting, you end up with a film like this.
    10perry_nagin

    amazing movie

    i really enjoyed the Book of Love, it was filled with emotion and the directing was wonderful. i saw it at Sundance and felt the acting included some of the best performances that i saw there. Simon Baker's performance was outstanding and definitely deserves recognition. the movie was also humorous and the music was amazing!! Clem Snide adds a great touch to the soundtrack and the placement of the songs in the movie really highlight key moments. I also thought the Book of Love was much more impressive and compelling than the similarly themed movie, The Door in the Floor. the ending was a realistic and thought provoking choice that did justice to the intelligence of the rest of the movie. i definitely recommend this movie!

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is the first film Bryce Dallas Howard is credited in that wasn't directed by her father, Ron Howard.
    • Quotes

      Elaine Walker: [singing for David] The book of love is long and boring, no one can lift the damn thing. It's full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing. But I love it when you read to me, and you can read me anything. The book of love is long and boring, and written very long ago. It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes and things we're all too young to know. But I love it when you give me things, and you ought to give me wedding rings. Original song by Magnetic Fields.

    • Connections
      Referenced in The Masked Singer Australia: Episode #3.3 (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      Rock Nation
      Written by: Scott Nickoley and Jamie Dunlap

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Book of Love?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 18, 2004 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nights in Phnom Penh
    • Filming locations
      • Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA
    • Production companies
      • Robert Ahrens Productions
      • Banner Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 23m(83 min)
    • Color
      • Color

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