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Dedication: Too Weird for Its Own Good

BuzzSugar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 06:00:00 -0700

Dedication, the directorial debut from Justin Theroux, is a weird little movie. And while that's not necessarily a bad thing, Dedication gets a little too lost in its own weirdness, ultimately overwhelming what could be a sweet, unlikely love story.

At the heart of Dedication is Henry Roth (Billy Crudup), a basket case of a children's book writer who occasionally has to put heavy objects (encyclopedias or other large books, preferably) on top of himself to feel safe. The one person in the world who can tolerate his antics is his illustration partner, Rudy Holt (Tom Wilkinson), whose particular brand of tough love seems to calm Henry down. The two are working on a tough deadline for a children's book based on their character of Marty the Beaver (dreamed up, amusingly enough, in a porno theater) when Rudy dies suddenly of a brain tumor. That leaves Henry without an illustrator, not to mention without an anchor to the regular, non-neurotic world.

Enter Lucy (Mandy Moore), an illustrator plucked by editor Arthur Planck (Bob Balaban) to work with Henry. Henry spends most of his time trying to figure out just how insulting and nasty he can be to Lucy before she gives up and leaves him alone; considering she's been offered $200,000 if she gets Henry to finish the book (unbeknownst to him, of course), it will take a lot more than insults to get her to leave. It's a perfectly solid plot, but Theroux doesn't control the movie's tone enough to execute it well. To see what I mean, read more

The first half of the movie feels trippy and surreal, something straight out of a David Lynch film (an effect I doubt is coincidental - but more on that later). Henry, angry over Rudy's death, continues speaking to his dead partner in a series of dream sequences, shot with a choppy, deliberate camera effect. Crudup does a fine job of conveying Henry's various psychoses, and though much of his character is never really explained - why the books? why the OCD tendencies to rearrange the condiments at every restaurant? - he's interesting enough. One of Theroux's greatest strengths as a director is his use of music, and the soundtrack adds a lot to the story, with the disjointed sounds of Deerhoof giving an additional window into Henry's psyche and the more mellow Cat Power representing Lucy's calming presence. But in general, the effects are a little too strange to be useful; after the first couple of jolts into Henry's alternate reality where Rudy is still alive, the device felt tired.

But I still prefer the vaguely experimental tone of the movie's first half to the more standard love story it becomes in the end, because in all the trippiness, Theroux forgets to give us much reason to care about Henry or Lucy. Mandy Moore gives Lucy a good underlying toughness, but her character - who is also trying to decide whether to get back with her professor/thesis adviser (Martin Freeman) - isn't written deeply enough to understand why she'd put up with either of these guys. When the weirdness of the movie's first half starts to fall away, the story just feels empty.

Which brings me back to David Lynch. Theroux, who worked with Lynch on Mulholland Drive and Inland Empire, wrote in the press notes for Dedication about how the legendary director had influenced his own style. So I suppose it's not surprising that Dedication feels like a clumsy attempt at taking elements of Lynch's films and applying them to a romantic comedy. But, well, even Lynch himself isn't famous for his great romantic comedies.

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Mandy Premieres Her Dedication

PopSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:15:35 -0700

Mandy looked like a vamped up version of herself at the Dedication premiere in NYC last night. While we're a huge fan of the actress, we're not loving this harsh look. We bet her costar Billy Crudup wasn't into it much either. Mandy makes him look so tiny as she towers over him. Obviously from her big smile we can tell they were having fun with the situation. It reminds us that she's still her wholesome self. In fact, Mandy recently opened up to TV Guide about what sets her apart from some of Hollywood's other young stars. Here's more:

How have you been able to sidestep the troubles that have plagued Britney and Lindsay?
I think it all sort of comes down to family and having this wonderful support of people in your life. I know this sounds Pollyanna-ish, but it's not. I don't relate to that kind of lifestyle and exposure. That is never really the situation I've been in. And I feel lucky for that.

We agree that Mandy is lucky to have been able to rely on her strong family background. She's also stayed out of the scene which has helped her avoid trouble. If only LL and Brit had a support system then maybe they'd be a positive role model like Mandy.

For more of Mandy, Billy and more just read more

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Images include Justin Theroux, Amy Sedaris, Mandy Moore, Billy Crudup and Bobby Cannavale.

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First Look: Mandy Moore, Billy Crudup in Dedication

BuzzSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 08:20:00 -0700

There hasn't been much of a publicity push for Dedication, a strange little indie romantic dramedy starring Mandy Moore and Billy Crudup, which can sometimes be a very good sign. After all, the last two movies I saw with Moore in them (Because I Said So, License to Wed) enjoyed major marketing pushes and then turned out to be some of the year's most embarrassing disappointments. For Moore's sake, I hope Dedication is a quality movie so we can see that it's not the actress that was the problem - it was the material.

Crudup plays Henry Roth, a peculiar, misanthropic and slightly unstable man who requires certain things (like sleeping with heavy objects resting on his body) to feel safe. Henry writes children's books that inform children of Santa Claus' nonexistence. When his best friend and book illustrator dies, Henry is paired with a new illustrator, the young, pretty Lucy (Moore), who possesses a quirkiness of her own. The two struggle to get along, and surely a kind of love starts to bloom between them. Amy Sedaris and Martin Freeman (the original Tim from the BBC "Office"!) also star. Dedication opens in limited release August 24, so to watch the trailer, read more

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Mandy's Film Gets Picked Up By The Weinstein Co!

PopSugar — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:33:50 -0800

Mandy's star is on the rise. She has a new album coming out this year and now her film Dedication has been picked up by The Weinstein Co. at Sundance. That's like hitting Sundance gold! Page Six reports:

"Distributors were in a fierce battle," said a source, but Weinstein secured the deal "at 4 a.m." Harvey Weinstein was huddled earlier in a corner of the Lotus Lounge at Hollywood Life House with the film's director, Justin Theroux, for hours. Moore was there as well, sealing her own deal with DJ AM. "The two were making out on the couch," said our spy. The Weinstein Co. also acquired "Grace Is Gone," starring John Cusack, for $4 million, as well as "Teeth" and "La Misma Luna." Reps for Weinstein confirmed all four picture deals.

Congrats to Mandy and her team on that deal. As for the DJ AM part, well I guess we're just happy Mandy is smiling again. More pictures of Mandy looking pretty for David Letterman, so just read more

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Mandy is a Good Girl, not a Goody-Goody

PopSugar — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 12:00:45 -0800

Mandy is up in Park City and managed to sneak away from her new beau, DJ AM to get some promo pics taken for her film Dedication, which also stars Billy Crudup. Could she get any cuter? Mandy may have a squeaky clean reputation, but she set some things straight in the February issue of Jane magazine. In addition to saying that she hated her past pop albums and that she's recently suffered from depression she also made it clear that she isn't your typical good girl. Here's highlights:

On why she doesn’t drink:
“I’m a control freak, and I think maybe that’s why. I’m too scared to see what will happen. I’ve been drunk maybe two or three times in my life, although I do like to have a glass of wine before going into the studio, to mellow me out.”
On her image:
“I kind of am a goody-goody. But I’m not judgmental. I’ve done a couple of movies [A Walk to Remember, Saved] where I’ve played Christian characters, so people assume I’m very religious. It’s not a completely correct perception of who I am.”
On the future:
“I’m still figuring it all out, but I want to be extraordinary. I want to live up to my full potential. I’ve always been really shy, very ‘don’t look at me.’ I’ve wanted to hide. But now I don’t want to hide.”

She seems to be pretty extraordinary to us! I mean, she's managed to grow up in the spotlight without totally losing her mind (or her underwear). And she may be a good girl but not in an annoyingly, oh just shut-up kind of way. Young Hollywood needs more people like her. We are always up for more Mandy. For more pics just read more

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Last Chance to Enter Our Thanksgiving Giveaway!

partysugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:16:47 -0800

From our free downloadable planner to our favorite recipes for stuffing, sides, and desserts, we're dedicating November to all things Thanksgiving. We're taking it one step further by partnering with our friends at Williams-Sonoma® to bring you the ultimate turkey day prize! There's everything you need to host the perfect Thanksgiving.

We're sending you the bird, a free-range organic Willie Bird turkey from California. Then, we're throwing in all the necessary tools for creating a juicy and flavorful roast turkey. There's a stainless steel roaster, a baster, turkey lifters, brining bags, and probe thermometer. We couldn't forget about the side dishes, so there's a kitchen timer to ensure everything cooks properly; a potato ricer is a must have for smooth and fluffy mashed potatoes; and a ruffled pie dish and Fall forest piecrust cutters are essential for picture-ready pies. All of these products form a giveaway package that's worth more than $500!

To enter to win, you must log in and take the quiz below by 1 p.m. EST on Friday, Nov. 20. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct; completing the quiz once you are logged in makes you eligible to win. You do, however, need to be a PopSugar Network member before taking the quiz. If you're not already a member, register here for an account. One quiz entry per person. See the official rules here.

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What's Your Most Effective Budget Tip?

SavvySugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:36 -0800

Creating and sticking to a budget is hard. Period. It takes dedication, daily effort and compromise. We each develop our own smart saving style and tricks over the years, which is why we started the How Do You Save? group for you to divulge your winning tactics. We want you to dole out your advice to other SavvySugar readers trying to save a little moola and learn from their experiences.

Do you have an effective budget tip? Create a PopSugar Account or login to your account, then join the How Do You Save? group and share it! And you never know, it could be featured on SavvySugar! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Glee-ful Highlights and Video From Episode "Ballad"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:45:00 -0800

Maybe it's because Glee set the bar so high last week, or maybe it's the lack of Sue, but this week's episode just didn't do it for me. There are plenty of catchy tunes, but Rachel's all-of-a-sudden crush on Mr. Schue seems a bit forced, and it seems ridiculous that Will and Emma are best buddies again with no mention of their dramatic encounters from a few weeks ago.

It does have some touching moments (along with some sad ones) for Finn and Quinn, so to get into it just read more.

Mr Schue has the glee kids draw names out of a hat and assigns each pair a ballad to help them profess their feelings. He shoots himself in the foot when he throws his own name into the ring and Rachel draws it. One spot-on duet of "Endless Love" later, Rachel's found herself a brand new crush to distract her from her feelings for Finn. I liked this plot line, but something about it felt a bit too forced, like the writers just squeezed it in to have Mr. Schue sing his mash-up. I did kind of love when Terri has Rachel clean the bathroom, though, and when Emma and Rachel are equally goo-goo eyed over Mr. Schue's mini-performance. Speaking of Emma, aren't she and Will supposed to be trying to stay away from each other?

Watch Rachel and Mr. Schue gaze into each other's eyes here:

Quinn and Finn's situation comes to a head this week, and both end up breaking the news to their parents. Well, actually, Finn breaks the news to Quinn's parents via a dinner table performance of Paul Anka's "(You're) Having My Baby." While Quinn's parents are heartbreakingly unsupportive, Finn's mom takes the kids in when Quinn has nowhere else to go. The rest of the gleeks profess their own love for the couple with a rendition of "Lean on Me" which is super cheesy, but necessary after the harsh scene with Quinn's parents.
Puck finally breaks down and admits to Mercedes that he's the father of Quinn's baby. Mercedes doesn't even ask questions - just tells Puck that he's already done enough and to back off. Though Puck is staying away for now, it seems like the cat's out of the bag. Plus, did you catch the smirk he makes at Quinn at the end of the episode?

How'd you feel about this week's episode? Do you like the newfound bond between Finn and Kurt? Is Finn's dedication to a sonogram a little over the top? Sound off in the comments below, or create your own posts, recaps, polls and more in the Glee Club community group!

Photos courtesy of Fox

Britney Lives the Life Aquatic With Sean and Jayden

PopSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:30:00 -0800

Britney Spears continued to enjoy the sights of Australia today as she brought Sean Preston and Jayden James out to explore the Sydney Aquarium and a wildlife park. Her boys only arrived Down Under last week, but they've already had tons of fun from their yachting afternoon to swim time with Britney and Jason Trawick. Britney performed her second of four shows in the city last night, and she has two days off before she takes the stage again. She's spending some of her downtime playing with her new "It's Britney!" iPhone app and checking out fan photos. Britney's also gearing up for the release of her greatest hits album on November 24th, and MTV is dedicating time before it hits shelves to a retrospective of her career.

To see more of Britney and her boys, just read more.

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Robert, Kristen, Taylor and the Whole New Moon Cast Hit the Red Carpet at Their Big LA Premiere!

Molly — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:55:00 -0800

Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner were the last New Moon stars to arrive on the red carpet in LA last night, but the crowds were happy to wait for the big three! They all looked fantastic - especially Kristen in her gorgeous Oscar de la Renta and sexy hair, who stopped to talk about how happy she was to be at an event with the fans. She said she doesn't have a favorite of all the hot dresses she's worn while out promoting the movie, but fell in love with this one when she saw it. Robert greeted all the fans with a huge smile, excitedly signing autographs for as many people as he could. He flashed an adorable smile to us when they announced Kristen's arrival right behind him, though the two were spread out and didn't pose on the red carpet together. The signs all over the event were amazing, showing the dedication of the Twilight lovers some of whom camped out for days before the big event.

Jennie Garth accompanied her husband Peter Facinelli, but joked that the scene she was most excited to see was Robert Pattinson shirtless! Always the understanding partner, Peter said that he sees where she's coming from since she's seen him shirtless thousands of times. Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene hit the premiere at almost the same time, meeting up on the red carpet for some interviews - though at one point he stepped on her train, whoops! Nikki Reed and Elizabeth Reaser were excited to see each other and Dakota Fanning stood tall in her sky-high heels. Kristen happily posed with Joan Jett and Dakota after they all worked together on The Runaways. The whole cast was so excited to see so many fans out to support the movie and for it finally to be released this Friday. We've got tons of video from the premiere coming up on PopSugar Rush so stay tuned!

To see TONS more from the event including 50 Cent, Elizabeth Reaser, Emma Roberts, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and of course Robert, Kristen and Taylor galore just read more.

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Images include: 50 Cent, Ashley Greene, Dakota Fanning, Elizabeth Reaser, Emma Roberts, Jamie Kennedy, Jennie Garth, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Julianne Hough, Kellan Lutz, Kristen Stewart, Mary Murphy, Nikki Reed, Peter Facinelli, Richie Sambora, Ava Sambora, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Anna Kendrick, Elle Fanning, Emilie de Ravin, Jack Huston, Jackson Rathbone, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Michael Sheen, Lilly Sheen, Stephenie Meyer, Emma Roberts, Joan Jett