Obscure beauty and Southern down-home culture encompass the life of the protagonist/unpublished writer Leon “Bobby” Barlow (played by Howard), who has destroyed his marriage, neglected to pay child support and lives his life in a drunken stupor in writer/director/actor Arliss Howard?s first feature film, “Big Bad Love.”

The title of and script for the film is based on the works of Southern writer Larry Brown, (a story about a dead dog and strange sex) mostly on his novella “92 Days,” which is about the writer?s life and his “passionate pursuit for imperfection.”

Howard?s portrait of the artist as a man who slowly destroys all that is dear to him through drunken escapades, and through a longing for discovery by some far-off publisher, is an extremely endearing aspect of the film. His portrayal of the other characters in the film is powerful as well. Barlow?s best friend, Monroe (Paul Le Mat) is a vivacious spark in Barlow?s melancholy dream world; he offers him a job painting houses and is his faithful drinking partner. Many times in the film they purchase suitcases of beer and drink while cruising recklessly in Monroe?s truck for their late-night partying.

At first this might seem like a testosterone-filled endeavor, but the film has some very powerful female performances, including a remarkable portrayal of Barlow?s ex-wife Marilyn (Deborah Winger). Winger, who is Howard?s wife and the film?s producer, hasn?t worked on screen since 1995?s “Forget Paris” and accomplishes a brilliant comeback in “Big Bad Love”. She succeeds in a difficult role, playing a woman who is still in love with her ex-husband, yet distances herself from his self-destructive behavior to protect herself and her children.

“Big Bad Love” is beautifully shot by cinema photographer Paul Ryan, presenting the spacious small town community of Holly Springs, Miss. with a unique cultural flare and striking humanity. The film cuts freely between Barlow?s dream world and reality, and through his nostalgic notions of the past and the melancholy of the present. The use of graceful transitions and new-wave antics makes this film a pleasure to watch.

Not only visually excellent, the high-caliber all-star variety of musicians on the soundtrack only accentuates this cinematic achievement. If one only goes to hear the two new songs “Long Way Home” and “Jayne?s Blue Wish” written specifically for the film by the legendary Tom Waits, it is still quite worth it as the film is fueled by the emotional variation of superb musical accompaniment.

Other original material written for the film, sometimes even recorded live on the set, comes from R.L. Burnside and Kenny Brown. Also appearing in the film are works from other critically acclaimed world-renowned musicians such as Steve Earl, Tom Verlaine and the Kronos Quartet.

Even though the audience witnesses Barlow?s downward spiral of drunkenness, Howard manages to show a unique spark for the brilliant, yet extremely disturbed writer who pays the cost for his carousing and loses his best friend in a drunken traffic accident, while his daughter dies the same day and we see the Vietnam veteran at his lowest low. As he stumbles through an alcohol daze we see life through Barlow?s eyes and the depression of his abstract existence.

The most touching scene occurs when he falls at the foot of a police car and then is sentenced to 30 days in jail for public drunkenness. He receives a letter with a picture of his late daughter enclosed, written on the back is “please remember me.” As he starts to cry even the jail guard can?t help holding back tears.

Although the director shows a great deal of compassion toward his main character, that is not the only important aspect to Howard’s message in “Big Bad Love.” From the film the audience learns that even though Barlow is a lousy husband and a terrible father, he is extremely romantic and tells one hell of a bedtime story. This film shows that one man’s passion and creativity can be a beautiful triumph, even if he loses some very important battles along the way.