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.

I absolutely loved this movie. The characters are so real, I feel like I know someone just like the ones in this movie, every single one of them. I don't want to give way the ending but, I haven't seen a more realistic and matter of factish movie in this genre yet. It's hilarious, it has negative shades, twists and turns that you would not expect! I don't even know which "box" I should put this movie into. Is it comedy? romantic? drama? suspense? But isn't life just like that too? What box would you put your life into? Is your life a comedy? tragedy? suspense? drama?... Now you know what I am talking about. This movie is just as real as life can get! Very well made!

I had the chance to preview this movie earlier this year. Being labeled as a movie to entertain both sexes, I was a bit reluctant to watch it. I have been sucked into the romantic-dramady many times by being told it was made for all of us. SO, that being said, I was ready to be let down yet again. My final verdict….This was most definitely NOT a chick flick!!! The chemistry on screen between the actors was exceptional and the story was well thought out and lacked the usual bits of downtime. You know the type of movie that I'm referring to. Where you have 30 minutes of intense plot that leads up to 45 minutes of insane fumbling where the writers couldn't think of anything original to fill the time, Only to end in an unbelievable climax in the last 10 minutes of the film….This was not that movie! For once I was surprised at the twists and turns this plot took and the ending was up in the air until the final minute. I found myself relating to several of the characters and actually rooting for several of them in the end. I can't say if I have seen a more clever debut for a director,(The next Kevin Smith?!?). Low budget but High in quality!

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.