There aren't many literary geniuses with wide recognition these days. Most film scripts rely on special effects and actors to make them memorable. It's rare that you'll find a movie where the "star" is the dialogue, and not a thespian or CGI explosion. But with David Mamet, that's what you get.
In general, I'm not a David Mamet fan. Although his films are always well-written, and his trademark stylization of speaking dialogue in his movies is always fun to listen to (although it's restrained here), they are not my cup of tea. I didn't like "Glengarry Glen Ross," and I found "Spartan" interesting but poorly paced. I did, however, like his hysterical play, "November," and after hearing good things about "State and Main" from critics and word of mouth, I decided to check it out. It's consistently amusing, but not as funny as it wants to be.
"State and Main" is an ensemble comedy. It's about a desperate film crew who finally finds a place to shoot their movie, but they are all about to have a disastrous run-in with Murphy's Law. The big-star, Bob Beringer (Alec Baldwin) can't keep himself from his hobby (young girls like Carla, played by Julia Stiles). The director, Walt Price (Mamet regular William H. Macy) suddenly realizes that his newfound shooting spot doesn't have an old mill anymore (the film they're shooting is called "The Old Mill"). The ditsy female star, Claire Wellesley (Sarah Jessica Parker) is having second thoughts about taking her shirt off on camera. And the screenwriter, Joeseph Turner White (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is having to constantly rewrite his script to deal with the crises, all while falling for his newfound muse, the local bookstore owner Ana (Rebecca Pigeon, aka Mrs. David Mamet).
The best thing about this movie (other than the brilliant script) is the fact that Mamet never takes the easy way out. He eschews the easy targets (movie stars with huge egos and/or no brains, greedy lawyers, etc.). To be sure, they make an appearance, but they aren't a huge source of the film's comedy. This is all but to be expected; Mamet has been on the film scene for the last two decades, and is widely recognized as one of the best script doctors. He knows how making a movie REALLY works, and attacks it with a his scythe of satire.
Unfortunately, while this opens up the potential for new and funny jokes, plot twists and gags (and Mamet actually exploits it), it's just not as funny as he intended it to be. It's clear that this is supposed to be 105 minutes of madcap insanity, which it is, but it's just not a laugh a minute riot (as was the intention).
The acting is great, and the actors poke fun at their reputations (like Baldwin and Parker). And we actually begin to care about Joesph and Ana. And although it's not as funny as it is meant to be, there are some great one liners.
It's worth a rental, especially for Mamet fans, movie lovers, and intelligent viewers.
In general, I'm not a David Mamet fan. Although his films are always well-written, and his trademark stylization of speaking dialogue in his movies is always fun to listen to (although it's restrained here), they are not my cup of tea. I didn't like "Glengarry Glen Ross," and I found "Spartan" interesting but poorly paced. I did, however, like his hysterical play, "November," and after hearing good things about "State and Main" from critics and word of mouth, I decided to check it out. It's consistently amusing, but not as funny as it wants to be.
"State and Main" is an ensemble comedy. It's about a desperate film crew who finally finds a place to shoot their movie, but they are all about to have a disastrous run-in with Murphy's Law. The big-star, Bob Beringer (Alec Baldwin) can't keep himself from his hobby (young girls like Carla, played by Julia Stiles). The director, Walt Price (Mamet regular William H. Macy) suddenly realizes that his newfound shooting spot doesn't have an old mill anymore (the film they're shooting is called "The Old Mill"). The ditsy female star, Claire Wellesley (Sarah Jessica Parker) is having second thoughts about taking her shirt off on camera. And the screenwriter, Joeseph Turner White (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is having to constantly rewrite his script to deal with the crises, all while falling for his newfound muse, the local bookstore owner Ana (Rebecca Pigeon, aka Mrs. David Mamet).
The best thing about this movie (other than the brilliant script) is the fact that Mamet never takes the easy way out. He eschews the easy targets (movie stars with huge egos and/or no brains, greedy lawyers, etc.). To be sure, they make an appearance, but they aren't a huge source of the film's comedy. This is all but to be expected; Mamet has been on the film scene for the last two decades, and is widely recognized as one of the best script doctors. He knows how making a movie REALLY works, and attacks it with a his scythe of satire.
Unfortunately, while this opens up the potential for new and funny jokes, plot twists and gags (and Mamet actually exploits it), it's just not as funny as he intended it to be. It's clear that this is supposed to be 105 minutes of madcap insanity, which it is, but it's just not a laugh a minute riot (as was the intention).
The acting is great, and the actors poke fun at their reputations (like Baldwin and Parker). And we actually begin to care about Joesph and Ana. And although it's not as funny as it is meant to be, there are some great one liners.
It's worth a rental, especially for Mamet fans, movie lovers, and intelligent viewers.