Crazy Love

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.

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.

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...

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.