In olden times — as far back as 1993, even — I’d sometimes see screenwriters quoted in defense of their craft, asserting that the script is always the backbone of a good movie. I don’t see screenwriters saying that so much anymore, perhaps because they’re so used to seeing their efforts mucked with that they don’t even expect whatever good work they’ve done to shine through. Still, it’s painful to watch a movie like Dream House — well-acted, beautifully shot and directed with extraordinary care and attention to craft — only to realize that the story, the alleged backbone, is absurd.
See more here:
REVIEW: There’s a Great Movie in Dream House, Dying to Get Out