Dedication (2007/Weinstein Company DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Film: C

 

 

To put it bluntly, Justin Theroux’s Dedication (2007) wastes a potentially good idea by being pretentious as hell and coming up with some of the consistently worst dialogue I have encountered in a while as an insecure writer (Billy Crudup) is hit hard by the death of an older creative partner (Tom Wilkinson) who haunts him, getting in the way of getting to know a new collaborator (Mandy Moore) better.

 

I was hoping the abstract interludes woven into the story would pay off, but David Bromberg’s screenplay is all over the place, wasting a good cast and the time of the audience.  Next time, I hope Bromberg and Theroux are “dedicated” to better dialogue and a male/female relationship story that convinces because this one does not.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is on the soft side with some editing also pulling down the picture grade, while the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is weak in dialogue and does not have the best soundfield, even in the subtlest way.  There are no extras.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo