Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I feel extremely guilty. I only saw 2 films yesterday due to a crazy interview schedule. I was able to catch a Slamdance movie called WEIRDSVILLE (review pending) on a screener DVD, so I guess 3 movies and 5 interviews isn't too bad. Let's cover the two films I saw theatrically yesterday, both thematically and tonally similar, however executed rather differently. DEDICATION So, picture Billy Bob Thornton's BAD SANTA character in his youth. Cynical, mean... and just a horrible person, but somehow still likable. Billy Crudup plays Henry, who has a huge chip on his shoulder, hardly any friends, but a lot of talent as a children's book author. A foul-mouthed children's book author that bases his characters on pornos, including his most popular character, Marty the Beaver. His best and only friend is Tom Wilkenson, his business partner. Wilkenson is the only person who can deal with Henry's shit and inspire him to work. A third of the way into the movie Wilkenson steps into the background, forcing Henry to deal with a new artist. Henry, of course, is resistant when his publisher forces a new partner on him to do a follow-up Marty the Beaver book. This artist is played by Mandy Moore, somehow still adorable in a ratty wig, who is promised a huge bonus if she can get Henry out of his shell and create a new book before Christmas. Crudup is great in this. In fact, everybody is great in this, but the film rests on Crudup's shoulders. If wasn't likable and just a mean asshole, then the film would have been intolerable. But you see his heart and the romance that happens feels not only real, but needed. You like watching Crudup tell little girls who worship his character that Beaver means vagina and Santa Claus doesn't exist. It's very funny and wrong, but you also don't miss that side of him when he comes to discover his humanity again. Moore is sweet and huggable, a factor I very much believe is a must in romantic comedies, even romantic black comedies. I find they work for me personally when the girl in the movie is the kind you just want to get out of your seat, step into the film and just hug, protect them from the world they're in. In Woody Allen's best there's that factor. In movies as recent as GARDEN STATE you have that factor. And you have it in DEDICATION, too. Also in the film, in smaller roles, are Martin Freeman (THE OFFICE -UK) as Moore's ex-flame, an author who is bizarrely both douchey and sincere. Also great is Dianne Wiest as Moore's slightly insane mother/landlord. She's a riot and so great in her little screentime. I also loved Wilkenson in the movie. He's the perfect balance to Crudup's Henry, his soul, his conscience. Wilkenson is one of my favorite working actors. The movie is fantastic. The more I think about it, the more I love it. I believe the Weinstein Co. just picked this one up. WAITRESS WAITRESS has a lot of buzz around it being the last movie Adrienne Shelly directed and starred in before she was murdered last year. The screening was packed. At times like this I was worried there would be a sort of bullet-proof shield around the movie if it wasn't any good. People will want it to be good just out of respect for Shelly, which would mean, if the movie was bad, I would have to keep my mouth shut around people gushing about it. Luckily for me, the movie was not only decent, it was really good. Awkwardness averted. The flick is about a waitress (believe it or not) at a little diner/coffee house type place. Keri Russell plays Jenna, the lead. She's miserable in her marriage to an absolutely despicable Jeremy Sisto. He's the worst kind of man, controlling, full of himself, insecure, abusive. Jenna's only escape is her pie-making. She invents pies and gives them names appropriate to her life. At the very beginning of the movie she finds out she's pregnant and immediately thinks up a "I don't want a baby" pie. Nathon Fillion pops up as the charming, funny and loving Dr. Pomatter. Of course, being the polar opposite of her husband, Jenna falls for the (married) doctor and sparks fly. She discovers a side of her life she thought was dead. Cheryl Hines and Shelly herself co-star as Jenna's friends and co-workers and they're all quirky and good. However, the bright shining bit of casting in the movie lies with the owner of the diner, Old Joe. Andy Griffith. I can't put into words how great it was seeing him in this movie. He's a full blown supporting character, not just a day-player. And damn is he funny and sharp. He's a bit crotchety and has an edge to him, which I didn't expect when I saw his name pop up in the opening credits. The flick is entertaining, tragic, but hopeful. It really swings from lightheartedness to some really dark material. It's a good final movie and it's a shame we, as movie-goers, won't get to see more. I've been asked to put a link up to the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, so give it a look if you feel so inclined. -Quint quint@aintitcool.com
