Product Details

• Actors: Sarah Jessica Parker, Alec Baldwin
• Format: Widescreen
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0036FDQ2A
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,858 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars State and Main, January 27, 2001

By 

Matthew Parks (DURHAM, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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Hollywood has a long tradition of movies about movie-making, which range from the sublime (Sullivan's Travels, The Bad and the Beautiful) to the horrifying (Sweet Liberty). Thankfully, David Mamet's new film belongs with the former rather than the latter. Although known more for his gritty dramas than comedy, there is no doubt that Mamet has a genius for dialogue, and never has he put this genius to better use than he does in "State and Main." The movie also features one of the great ensemble casts in recent memory. In addition to Mamet regulars William H. Macy, Rebecca Pidgeon, and Ricky Jay, the cast of this Hollywood-film-crew-comes-to-small-town-New-England comedy features Alec Baldwin,Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Charles Durning, and Julia Stiles.

If there is any justice at all in Hollywood, the Academy voters will be able enough to laugh at their industry, and this movie will get a Best Picture nomination.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty and Smart, March 31, 2004

By 

Corey White (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: State and Main (DVD)

"State and Main" is a David Mamet movie, and it shows. While more light-hearted than most of the his other works, it shares their stylized writing, understated cinematography, and brilliantly cynical humor. The movie follows the misadventures of a Hollywood film crew as they try to make a movie in small-town America, spinning locals and movie people alike into a whirlwind of hilarity.

Featuring an ensemble cast of excellent actors (Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Rebecca Pidgeon, David Paymer, William H. Macy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alec Baldwin, Clark Gregg, and Julia Stiles, among others), "State and Main" relies on their energy and fast-paced paced interaction to keep the laughs coming. The characters they play are caricatures (the noble writer, the slick director, the skirt-chasing actor, the greedy producer), but they are nevertheless believable. The very absurdity of the characters is entertaining, but the humor is intelligent - there's nothing slapstick about this.

In fact, if the movie has a weakness, it is this very intelligence; at times, the writing seems a little self-conscious, the smartness a little stilted. Nevertheless, I'd much prefer a comedy to be too smart than not smart enough, and "State and Main" leans that way if it leans at all.

Aided by a punchy soundtrack, the film gets off to a quick start and maintains its pace throughout. The dialog has a staccato rhythm, and the lines are delivered with beautiful comedic timing. The underlying themes of second chances and the transience of the American Dream are clear, but unobtrusive.

I truly feel that this movie is an underrated masterwork, and I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who likes to laugh. I've watched "State and Main" at least five times, and it remains funny and engaging on each viewing - something I find very rare in a film. Buy this movie today, or rent it, or borrow it - you won't regret it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Boy, Can Mamet Write! If Only All Directors Could!, July 16, 2001

By 

carol irvin "carol irvin" (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: State and Main (DVD)

In all too many films, I find myself let down because the writing is so bad. Some of the very worst are by directors who also want to be writers but who can't really write. When I find out who they are, I thereafter avoid their films. I never trouble myself with thoughts like these in seeing a David Mamet film though since he is first and foremost a writer. As usual, he brings his superb screenwriting skills to this vehicle, which he also directed, and turns it into pure gold. He places William H. Macy front and center as a film director who is trying to bring a film in on budget in New England although disaster looms on every front. I frankly never thought Macy could be a funny, ha-ha kind of actor but he is absolutely hilarious as this director with a bunker mentality. I also never thought Philip Seymour Hoffman could play a romantic lead but in this film he does so admirably with Mamet's wife, Rebecca Pidgeon. Hoffman is the writer on the film and Pidgeon becomes his muse and support system in one as she takes over his heart. Alec Baldwin plays himself as an obnoxious movie star and is also perfect doing so. He brings the chief conflict into the film, the prospect of the film's being shut down because of his penchant for bedding underage girls. Perhaps the most brilliant casting of all though is David Paymer, as producer Marty, who is perfect in every scene as the Machievellian man who will do anything to reach his end goal, bringing the film in. This film reminds me of Preston Sturges' "Travels of Sullivan," a masterpiece of screwball comedy. Mamet is not really known for comedy but rather for incisive drama. You'd never know that, however, from seeing this film. You'd think he'd been doing comedy all of his life. The only other comic film of his that I can recall is "Things Change," also a superb film. All of Mamet's work is a must-see for me and I am rarely disappointed with the results.