State and Main (2000, William C Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alec Baldwin) – Classic Film Review 1122

Writer-director David Mamet’s known for his rather egg-heady plays and movies, but here in 2000 he tackles an easy-going, old-style satire of film-making, film folk and the movie business, which is far more entertaining than penetrating or hard-hitting. And most people will think it’s all the better for it.

It’s set in a cute small Vermont town, where an arrogant, troubled movie crew suddenly descends, causing all the expected disruption, but the complacent locals soon put aside their hostility to be part of the film biz glitz and glam.

There are plenty of laughs to be had from the screwy situations, wacky characters and zany one-liners, while Mamet encourages his superb cast to enjoy themselves, and their obvious pleasure in the material is infectious.

William C Macy as the film’s troubled director Walt Price, …

Philip Seymour Hoffman as the film’s first-time screenwriter Joseph Turner White …

… and Sarah Jessica Parker as the film’s leading lady, who refuses to do her contracted nude scene without more money, all sparkle especially brightly.

Alec Baldwin is sweatily convincing in an unsympathetic part as a sleazy movie star accused of sexual shenanigans when his chasing after underage girls gets the film banished from their New Hampshire location and the team have to relocate to the small town of Waterford, Vermont.

Also effective David Paymer as a powerful movie producer and Julia Stiles as a crafty local teen. But it’s the veteran Charles Durning who steals the whole show as the town’s humpty-dumpty boss, Mayor George Bailey.

Rebecca Pidgeon and Patti LuPone also star and Ricky Jay, Michael Higgins, J. J. Johnston, John Krasinski and Jim Frangione are among the rest of the cast.

The plot involves the on-location production in Waterford, Vermont, of a fictional film called The Old Mill. But State and Main was shot in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Beverly, Dedham and Waltham, all in a different state of Massachusetts.

David Mamet’s also known for The Winslow Boy (1999) and Heist (2001).

http://derekwinnert.com/the-winslow-boy-1999-classic-film-review-644/

(C) Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 1122 derekwinnert.com