State and Main
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Movie Reviews of State and Main
Movie Review: Fresh and clever comedy
Summary: 4 Stars
Launching right into the action and comedy wit, State and Main begins just as a major motion picture crew takes over a small town. And it doesn't miss a beat.Flagging its excellent ensemble cast, the film is filled with wonderful performances. Standing out from the crowd is Philip Seymor Hoffman's character, a screenplay writer who falls in love with a local; and the demanding director played by the wonderful William H. Macy.
But it's the film's clever humor that wins out in the end. Never becoming too "in your face" with its jokes, State and Main uses a certain kind of nonchalance to present humor. While the characters might realize their situation is absurd or humorous one moment, they in effect shrug their shoulders and continue their frantic pace of making a movie and going on with life. And it is quite amusing to watch as some of the local customs and sayings of this small town begin to filter through the film crew.
In short, State and Main is just a small, clever film. It's not an amazing, life changing-film viewing experience, and it's not supposed to be. It's just a very enjoyable look into the absurdity of Hollywood.
Movie Review: Scandal, Romance, and Greed in a Small Town
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a star-studded comedy worth the watch.
When a big-budget film crew arrives, all kinds of excitement awakes the sleepy, quaint village in New England
Even before filming starts, romance, scandals, careers, egos and more drama erupts. Walt Price (William Macy) is the Director of a film that needs a low cost location that can look like the 19th Century - the time of the script. They find the small New England Village after the first location does not work out.
The girl-crazy leading man Bob Barrenger (Alec Baldwin), the frustrated writer Joe White (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and camera-shy leading lady (Sarah Jessica Parker) bring laughs withy the help of a high strung producer (David Paymer). The townsfolk are raring to go on the project and all is hanging on Joe White (the writer) to find a replacement for his treasured manual typewriter, lost in transit during a change in movie locations.
There are several sub-plots so the film keeps you interested, with laughs
Movie Review: Great cast, great script, great film!!
Summary: 4 Stars
"Hello, Marty. We've got a new town. Mm-Hm. We're in- Where are we again- Waterford, Vermont. What do you mean where is it? That's where it is."Such begins an incredibly engaging adventure of a film crew's efforts to begin shoot on the problem-plagued film 'The Old Mill'. This is, to my knowledge, Mamet's first comedy for the screen but you'd never guess.
Those who are long-time Mamet fans will recognize many of the faces from other films as well as Mamet's trademark snappy dialogue. I believe the writer of the score is the same as in 'The Spanish Prisoner' also. Put all this together and you've got a real treat.
On top of all that though, Mamet shows us great characters from the first-time film writer trying in vain to complete a script about purity, to the big time movie star who has a thing for 14 year old girls, to the overpressured director who wants a compromise at 'half-a-twenty-eight-year-old girl.' We all knew Hollywood was fun!!
Movie Review: Mainly Funny
Summary: 4 Stars
Phillip Hoffman is searching for purity. Unfortunately his play has been purchased by a wild Hollywood movie crew, and they are off and shooting in Waterford, Vermont because Main Street is already there. It is cheaper than building a set. Then the town folks, New Englanders, dry and pragmatic, mingle with Hollywood slime balls, daft, smooth-talking director, William H. Macy and screen idol, young girl chasing, Alex Baldwin. Sarah J. Parker of Sex in the City fame plays the nymphomaniac actress bedding everyone in sight. Small town smart girl Rebecca Pigeon and writer Hoffman make the necessary changes in the script and then they fall in love. A scandal threatens the shoot and somebody forgets the mayor's dinner party. There is plenty of manic fun here. I recommend for a good laugh. Also, is it just me or is William H. Macy the best actor in the world.Movie Review: Likeable movie
Summary: 4 Stars
I tend to watch movies for a story and take them at face value. If there is an obvious lesson, some laughs or tears, or if I learn something, those are plusses. I do not like to have to work too hard when viewing.....I want to relax."State and Main" allowed me to relax while I watched it. There were no gimmicks, no tricks--just a humorous story, simply told. The casting was good and there was a wide variety of characters populating a somewhat typical New England town. There were no real caricatures, although many of the Hollywood people were as shallow and smug and conniving as I always imagined them to be, many with huge egos.
The movie keeps the viewer on his/her tos with cleverly written dialogue and fast scene changes. All in all, an enjoyable film.