Review of State and Main (2000) by Tom B — 02 Jan 2011
Moving on, this one tonight opens with a shot that seems totally ripped from All That Heaven Allows as the camera descends once again into small town America. Once again it's a cynical take, akin in some ways to Sirk, though turning on different themes.
This time Mamet is uprooting the hypocrisy at the heart of the nation, but counterbalancing it against the evils of the film business. Cynical? Mamet? And yet this charming film is almost too cute at times, for here Mamet finds the value of love to be a worthy goal to champion, no doubt because Rebecca is the leading lady, and I do believe this was the one where they fell in love? Or close to it? Alec Baldwin is a scream, Philip Seymour Hoffman is adorable, William Macy is fantastic and so is David Paymer.
It's an all around clever satire, delivers Mamet's familiar message of irony, sans the virtuosity of Glengarry Glen Ross, or the dark bite of Homicide, or the crucial apprehension of value at the pinpoint moment of Red Belt.
This is a genial comedy in the Horatian mode, an American Day For Night, worth the time and periodic re-watching. A rarity for Mamet because of the unabashed affection at the heart of it, and the warm and agreeable glow of love that suffuses almost every scene.
This review of State and Main (2000) was written by Tom B on 02 Jan 2011.
State and Main has generally received positive reviews.
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