Rating: 
Summary: A Reader's DVD Par Excellence
Review: What a movie. I've seen it twice, once in NYC and again at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, CT. I had to own it. Everything else on those three discs is to be savored at leisure, no hurry. They won't go away. What I particularly liked about it was the suspense on the first viewing. I needed to know how it came out. Will the literary detective find the author? Will he be o.k.? Why didn't anybody remember him?
A second viewing was as enjoyable as the first. I knew how it ended, but that didn't matter. The second time around, I could focus on the interesting personalities of the people who agreed to be interviewed and filmed. It was the next best thing to being in an Irish pub taking in the conversation of literary greats. A good feeling, and informative. I learned a lot about American literature and the Americans who made literature in the 70s, those who are still making it, and those who critique it intelligently. The cameo appearances by the movie-maker's young son added a touch of unstudied (and uncaptioned) commentary: books are fun. Anyone who loves to read will love this film. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Journey
Review: Most of the negative comments posted against "Stone Reader" thus far seem to have one thing in common - they are all largely irrelevant to the content and quality of the story. Obviously there are those who bitterly resent the film's commercial success, and the subsequent success brought upon Dow Mossman's novel, "The Stones of Summer". Others have targeted the movie with contrived psychobabble about a "gay subtext". To both of these camps, I would suggest they watch the film again and review it on its respective merits, not on whether it offends their personal sensibilities. Commercial success is not irreconcilable with artistic merit, nor does a bond of admiration and friendship between a writer and a reader have anything to do with homosexuality. Indeed, the entire message of this movie is the connection between those who write books and those who read them.
If books are in any way a part of your life, be sure not to miss "Stone Reader".
Rating: 
Summary: A great film. (Stop the hating)
Review: I've read through all the reviews on this site. First off, I'll say that I agree with many. This is a unique and suspenseful documentary about one man's search for the author of a great novel. Moskowitz's search is illogical, even lacking in common sense...however, because of (or in spite of) that, we are taken on an intersting journey through the world of writing and publishing. While probably about a half hour too long (it meanders a bit towards the end) this film will reawaken any passion a person has had towards reading, and more importantly, will want to make you share and discuss those books with others.
Now, the second thing I have to say about the reviews on this site: many of them are hateful, and intentionally slanderous. This film is NOT about homosexuality, or about the director "coming out". This movie is about books and reading and what those things mean to people. There is nothing homosexual about this film! I believe some reviewers are intentionally saying this in order to hurt the film and turn people off of it. This movie is NOT about homosexuality, but about reading. In fact, this movie is completely asexual in nature. Its about books. Period. Stop the hating!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Appalling picture quality
Review: This is the first DVD I ever returned for store credit. It's difficult towatch since the picture quality is so poor. The contrast seems very wrong and the colors are garish.
Rating: 
Summary: Get to the point
Review: This movie is an convoluted look into one person's coming out experience. The movie brings out the personal and social stigmas of homosexuality. The viewer is able to feel the torment and pain that the director goes through as he reaches an understanding of what love and sex mean to his relationship with a writer.
Rating:
Summary: Much more interesting that I thought it would be....
Review: I'm a big fan of documentary films and really enjoyed Stone Reader. I thought it was as good as most I've seen this past year with the exception of Winged Migration, City of God, Capturing the Friedmans and Spellbound, which I thought were superior. I found it to be very involving and enjoyed the journey in seach of Mossman. I thought it was wonderful that Mark Moskowitz exhibited such a passion for books and reading and it inspired me to pick up several books in my own library that I've not gotten to yet. It also interested me so much in The Stones of Summer that I went out and bought a hardback copy....which I still haven't gotten to yet.
Rating:
Summary: A Film Every Booklover Should See: It's All Here
Review: Had the pleasure of seeing Stone Reader last May at the Angelika Dallas. It's a wonderfully delicious film that deals with books and the people who write them, read them, and love them. It made me think twice about being embarrassed to have so many books on our shelves here (most of which are still in boxes after a 10-ton move to Dallas; most of those ten tons were books) and come to terms with it.What is remarkable is that this is a film about reading that sends you out of the theatre ready to read at least one of the books that you saw in the film on a shelf, in a stack, shared in discussion, because you will recognize many of your favorites, see some of your "I really want to read this" books or "I tried once and put it down" books discussed by people who read them, and be intrigued by the themes running through books and the film, the main theme of which is "remarkable books by 'one-book authors,'" a fascinating category into which falls the author of "The Stones of Summer," a book with which Mark Moskowitz became so fascinated that he documented his search for that author in this film that covers something no other film has -- a love of reading and books that is both intellectual and visceral, or viscerally intellectual - never dry, always loving. ...and with the DVD, there's more!
Rating:
Summary: High Adventure in the Land of the Lost
Review: This is an absolutely brilliant, touching, and exciting film. When I saw it in the theater, I was floored. I knew three things at once. First - had to see this again. Second - I would love to have a series of long talks with Dow Mossman. Third - I had to read the lost book. My heartfelt appreciation to Mark Moskowitz who made this wonderful film and found the book and the man. What an accomplishment!
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary and unique groundbreaking film!
Review: I can't say enough about how much I and everyone I have shared this film with have enjoyed and been inspired by watching it many times. I have a list of the approximately 4,000 films I have seen in my lifetime, and this unique film (further enhanced by the other 2 DVDs that come with the limited edition) stands alone as a ground breaking monument that by its emergence has created a new genre for film, combining aspects of documentary technique, the art film, and investigative reporting with a personal search by the film maker himself to solve a real-life literary mystery. Anyone who loves books, the arts, mysteries, and life itself should greatly enjoy this wonderful film.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Movie
Review: The Stone Reader is a great movie--Mark Moskowitz has fascinating conversations with many people in the publishing and writing worlds as he tries to track down Dow Mossman--the author of the book the Stones of Summer. Even if you have not read the book, (and you'll want to after you see the movie), I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves reading and books.
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