dedication.

i read quite a bit of press about this movie (titled dedication, like this blog entry) when it was shown at sundance.
the critics were really into it.
i was already a fan of directior (and actor, though not in this) justin theroux, for his really great acting, NOT because he's a fox. but wow, he's not ugly. also, he's pretty funny! (you know how i like funny, people.) additionally, he's got all sorts of indie cred, and has been in an appealing mix of high and low brow projects. (he was in miami vice, which was easily the worst movie ever, in the history of the world. he was also in charlie's angels: full throttle, which was kinda the best movie ever, if you are me.) but the very first thing that got my attention was an interview between him and mary-louise parker, who is a bad-ass, and who is his neighbor. bitch. he was charming and interesting and, again i say, NOT UGLY. (i'd like to apologize to shannon, my husband. i love you, and my feelings for this person, who is a stranger to me, will not endanger my love and dedication [<--hah!] to our union.) anyhoodle, back to the movie. there was a lot of good press about it, and i was glad, because i am rooting for him and he tends to do things that are, if not awesome to me, at least interesting. he seems like a kindred spirit. i had really wanted to see it in the theatres, to put my money where my heaving loins/artistic sensibility is, but it was in and out like nothing, and sonoma county is pretty weak on the art house films. but it's out on dvd finally!! i netflix-ed it, and we watched it the other night, and it was worth the wait. it's a, dare i say it, quirky romance, between billy crudup's character and mandy moore's character. billy crudup's character, henry, is an insane bundle of neuroses, totally unfit for the company of fellow humans aside from his partner, rudy, played by the typically understated and brilliant tom wilkinson. they write children's books. rudy dies (of a brain tumor which was uncomfortable for me, but well-done) and henry is forced to collaborate with a new illustrator, lucy, played by mandy moore. they fall in love, duh, but the road is bumpy and there is some conflict. it's a pretty conventional story arc, from the love story perspective, but it's so unconventional in the other ways, so weird and funny, that the fact that it's a pretty standard love story makes it all the more enjoyable. billy crudup, finally exiting the black fog of infamy that his abandonment of mary-louise parker cast him in to (in my head), was wonderful. yes, he's an actor, but he's an Actor-actor, and he plays henry, who is, let's be honest, not a likable person AT ALL, as someone who somehow deserves the be loved. mandy moore, i want to find you and give you a hug because you were perfect for this role and played it so well. after the colossal stinker that that movie with you and diane keaton was, and then doing that idiotic movie with robin williams, i had my doubts, but you were excellent, and really held your own opposite some heavyweights. (aside note, mandy moore is 5'10" and billy crudup is, like, 4'9", but the filming did a good job of not making that an issue. they looked like they were in the same scale.) supporting cast was funny and strange and perfect, too - dianne weist, bob balaban, peter bogdanovich, and even martin freeman (of the UK version of the office, among other things.)
i was just so proud of everyone involved. i just want to find justin theroux and punch him in the arm and give him a high five.
just a high five. nothing else.
so, see it, okay?
there were a couple of eensy-weensy things i could say to criticize it, but i'll save it until you see it, and then we can talk about ti together, okay?
(lu, you should especially see it, because the girl character is named 'lucy,' too, so you can imagine that they're talking about/to you, and that will be fun for you, right?)