Movies / State and Main (2000)
Runtime: 105 min
Pity the poor film director (William H. Macy). He's arrived with cast and crew in the perfectly Rockwellian town of Waterford, Vermont, only to discover that the local mill--a crucial location for his movie, since it's titled "The Old Mill"--burned down in 1960. The idealistic screenwriter (Philip Seymour Hoffman) would rather pursue a pure-hearted local (Rebecca Pidgeon) than do a last-minute rewrite; the town's aspiring politico (Clark Gregg) wants to milk the production for every dime it's worth; the oft-exposed bimbo starlet (Sarah Jessica Parker) is now balking at her contractual nude scene; and a local teenager (Julia Stiles) is only too willing to exploit the indiscretions of the film's skirt-chasing star (Alec Baldwin). And of course, the power-wielding producer (David Paymer) is panicking about everything. Welcome to David Mamet's State and Main, the acclaimed writer-director's funniest and most accessible film to date, propelled by the rocket fuel of Mamet's show-biz experience and driven by an ensemble cast that simply couldn't be better. Naturally, the writer's dilemma is the meatiest one--will he be noble or sell out?--and Mamet arrives at a solution that's as hilarious as it is morally justified. Along the way, the rigors of filmmaking are explored with farcical abandon, such as how to provide a high-tech product placement... in a 19th-century story. Mamet's razor-sharp dialogue is gourmet popcorn here--each kernel yields a tasty surprise--and the whole scenario (intentionally modeled in the style of Preston Sturges) plays out with the breezy assurance of vintage screwball comedy. It's pure gold from start to finish, and even the closing credits offer another reason to laugh. --Jeff Shannon
Keywords (16) |
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Directors (1) | Credit |
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David Mamet | ... |
Writers (1) | Credit |
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David Mamet | (written by) |
Composers (1) | Credit |
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Theodore Shapiro | ... |
Editors (1) | Credit |
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Barbara Tulliver | ... |
Cinematographers (1) | Credit |
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Oliver Stapleton | ... |
Actors (58) | Credit |
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Alan Francis | Vermont State Trooper (uncredited) |
Alec Baldwin | Bob Barrenger |
Alexandra Kerry | Television Director |
Allen Soule | Spud |
Brian Howe | Bartender |
Charles Durning | Mayor George Bailey |
Charlotte Potok | Maude |
Chris De Christopher | Painter 1 (uncredited) |
Christopher Kaldor | Officer Cal Thompkin |
Cindy Lentol | Reporter (uncredited) |
Clark Gregg | Doug Mackenzie |
Danny Hovanesian | Bailiff (as Daniel G. Hovanesian) |
Darrell Geer | Vermont State Trooper (uncredited) |
David Lauren | News Producer (uncredited) |
David Paymer | Marty Rossen |
Dee Nelson | Decorator |
Emma Norman | Fisherwoman |
Frederic Levy | Gun Store Owner (as Rick Levy) |
G. Roy Levin | Salesman with Rubber Duck |
Jack Wallace | Bellhop |
Jerry Graff | Fake Judge |
Jim Frangione | Tommy Max |
J.J. Johnston | Stationmaster |
John Krasinski | Judge's Assistant (uncredited) |
Jonathan Katz | Howie Gold |
Jordan Lage | Doc Morten |
Josh Marchette | Production Assistant |
Julia Stiles | Carla |
Kate Super | Production Assistant (uncredited) |
Ken Cheeseman | Trooper #2 |
Kevin Foster McCarthy | Airport Van Driver (uncredited) |
Kolbie McCabe | Girl on Scooter |
Lana Bilzerian | Girl PA |
Laura Silverman | Secretary |
Linda Kimbrough | Courteney |
Lionel Mark Smith | Bill Smith |
Matthew Pidgeon | B.B.G. TV Reporter |
Matt Malloy | Hotel Clerk |
Michael Bradshaw | Priest |
Michael Higgins | Doc Wilson |
Michael James O'Boyle | Chuckie |
Molly Levine | Girl Pictured in Magazine (uncredited) |
Morris Lamore | Bunky |
Patti LuPone | Sherry Bailey |
Paul Butler | Real Judge |
Philip Seymour Hoffman | Joseph Turner White |
Rebecca Pidgeon | Ann |
Richard L. Friedman | Postman |
Ricky Jay | Jack |
Robert Walsh | Trooper #1 |
Sarah Jessica Parker | Claire Wellesley |
Sean Patrick Reilly | Loop |
Timothy Jernigan-Smith | Billy on Bike |
Todd Poudrier | Production Assistant (uncredited) |
Tony Mamet | Electrician |
Tony V. | Water Delivery Man |
Vincent Guastaferro | Uberto Pazzi-Sforzo |
William H. Macy | Walt Price |