Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict

Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

p-stepien After hearing so much about Hal Hartley and being an art-house fanatic I deftly jumped onto all the titles I could find. I started off with the utterly disappointing "No Such Thing", watched a couple of his shorts and finally got to watching one of his most known movies - "The Book of Life"... and I much regrettably say I have lost all my faith in this director.Story definitely has potential: Jesus, the Devil and Christ's assistant Madgelina discuss the end of days. Jesus is having second doubt's, so whilst stuck up in a hotel he tries to contemplate his actions.I'll ignore the low budget and lack of proper cinematography (done on a hi-def digital camera), as with these types of movies you have to take it at face value. I can even ignore the pathetic acting of most of the cast (although seeing how sub-par most actors are in Hal Hartley's movies I am led to believe he is incompetent of directing actors, which sorely drops his value as a movie auteur). But I just can not gloss over the mostly abysmal dialogue, lack of pace and no story-build. I sincerely searched for anything worth real mention in this movie and the best I came up with was the immensely interesting plot and quite decent story. Also some of the dialogues are intelligent and intriguing, although most of them fall flat as a pancake of superficiality.It is impossible however not to wonder if Hal Hartley wouldn't have made a much better career as a writer or even a playwright, given his lacking concept of filmmaking. As a play this story would work perfectly and after some more thought put into the dialogues it could be a brilliant theatre spectacle. All in all however it looks like a poor man's "Dogma" (nods to both von Trier as well as Kevin Smith's flick) gone awry.

Joseph Sylvers The Devil and Jesus discuss the end of the world on the eve of the new millennium. It's like a more humanistic and clever version of "Dogma" with lots of shaky, blur streaked Wang Kar Wai-ish digital camera work. An enjoyable experiment, but not as effortless as Hartley's earlier films. I still haven't a movie by him I haven't enjoyed. Martin Donovan as always delivers the deadpan dialog and rock starlet P.J. Harvey backs him as Magdalena his assistant (completely platonic). I think the woman whose soul get's sold is Hartley's wife. It does however benefit from a short time, never lingering longer than it needs to or wasting any time. I give it an extra half star for knowing when to close shop. A good sense of timing is important.

Charles Herold (cherold) Hey, remember when Hal Hartley was brilliant? What a time that was. I'd say the Book of Life was when things really started going downhill, but I will say that at least he went uphill from this one. A movie that looks like it was filmed on someone's cell phone wouldn't have to be a bad thing if it was distinguished by an interesting story and dialog, but alas, those are missing, along with Hartley's spare, quirky dialog. In their place is tedious exposition on themes of Christian end of times and a trite story of a modern Jesus in a quandary, packaged in a trying-to-be-hip modern world where everyone looks like someone out of a Hal Hartley movie. While it picks up a little in its second half, it's never enjoyable, or especially sensible. What the hell happened to you, Hartley?

deedee2005 Unable to find a rental, I broke down and bought this film, and am delighted that I did. I've seen Martin Donovan only once before, in Onegin. I thought he was British! Surprise! There are so many great scenes and lines in The Book of Life, it would be impossible and unfair to list them all and I couldn't do it justice anyway. Jesus is portrayed as happy to be back among human beings helpless as they (we) are; he's compassionate, but weary of the job he's been charged to do. Who wouldn't be? And, God's kicked him out of heaven, for some reason which was not clear, or perhaps I missed. Another reason to be weary! Jesus and the devil have it out in a most amazing scene. Listen carefully, there are some great lines that are almost thrown away. I have one complaint that has to do with a common and incorrect reading of Scripture. Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute. She was possessed by demons which Jesus cast out, but she was NOT a prostitute. That was another woman.. .This was also my first Hal Hartly film, and while I loved the antics, and interesting movements of the actors, the soundtrack, (P.J. Harvey singing "To Sir With Love" in the record store with music blasting in the background!) I was a little put off with the "ethereal" camera work. It definitely worked for certain moments, but I felt that it was somewhat distracting, and I wish this technique had been used a little less. I'm one of those whose optical nervous system can't handle broad sweeps or quick, jerky movements of camera work. Otherwise I give this film top rating, and am a new Hal Hartley fan.