State and Main (2000)

86% of critics liked it
(114 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(7,753 ratings)

Echoing the themes of Living in Oblivion and Irma Vep, David Mamet's seventh feature centers on the havoc wrought on the inhabitants of a small town by a troubled film production. After its leading man's propensity for teenage girls gets them banished from their New Hampshire location, a film crew… More Echoing the themes of Living in Oblivion and Irma Vep, David Mamet's seventh feature centers on the havoc wrought on the inhabitants of a small town by a troubled film production. After its leading man's propensity for teenage girls gets them banished from their New Hampshire location, a film crew relocates to the small town of Waterford, VT, to finish shooting "The Old Mill." As its title suggests, the film depends on the presence of a genuine mill, something the town is reported to possess. Unfortunately, with only days before principal photography begins, it becomes apparent that the mill in fact burned down decades ago. Unfazed, the film's director, Walt Price (William H. Macy), places his faith in the ability of first-time screenwriter Joseph Turner White (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to alter the script; what he doesn't count on is White's apparently bottomless reserve of angst-fueled writer's block. The film's leading lady (Sarah Jessica Parker) refuses to do her contracted nude scene unless she's give an ungodly sum of cash, while a foreign cinematographer offends the locals by messing with an historic firehouse, and the leading man, Bob Barrenger (Alec Baldwin), dallies with Carla (Julia Stiles), a crafty local teen. Everything comes to a head after Barrenger and Carla are injured in a car accident, which leads White to another emotional quandary and into the arms of Ann Black (Rebecca Pidgeon). ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: David Mamet
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 22, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Jun 19, 2001
Studio: Fine Line Features

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Hollywood corrupts absolutely, and Mamet turns the toxic process into the year's best and smartest comedy.
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
State and Main might be the perfect David Mamet movie for people who don't like David Mamet movies. The nice thing about it, though, is that it won't disappoint the rest of us.
Bruce Newman, San Jose Mercury News
An amusing trifle.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
As much fun to listen to as it is to watch.
Desmond Ryan, Philadelphia Inquirer
Mamet has an unrivaled ear for dialogue.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Has the hermetic, vacuum packed atmosphere of all the films that David Mamet has directed, yet cleverness, heightened to a pitch of acid tongued amorality, is both its flavor and its meaning.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Intriguing characters, good movie for older teens.
Nick Rogers, Suite101.com
David Mamet, that president emeritus of hard-consonant profanity, often seems as comfortable with softer stuff as a man wearing wool in July. But this on-the-nose Hollywood satire played like Preston Sturges absolved of Production-Code limitations.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
One giant testimony to unmet potential.
Tony Macklin, Las Vegas CityLife
David Mamet tones it down a second time in the relaxed State and Main.
James Plath, Reel.com
With a witty, intelligent script and a cast of Mamet regulars, what emerges is a right-on, leisurely-paced satire of Hollywood that pays homage to the process of filmmaking
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
...a fine comedy that represents grown-up moviemaking at its very best.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...quirky...
Harry Guerin, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
Mamet's most easy going and fun-loving film to date.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Alice S

WORTHLESS. I'm slowly coming around to the fact that Mamet's stilted patois might work, but definitely not when he writes and directs. The actors pause and repeat without motivation, as if they were just following stage directions.… More
WORTHLESS. I'm slowly coming around to the fact that Mamet's stilted patois might work, but definitely not when he writes and directs. The actors pause and repeat without motivation, as if they were just following stage directions. Rebecca Pidgeon is TERRIBLE. She breathes no life into the whimsical lady love. But hey, she's banging the director so why would she need to? I also get the impression that Mamet didn't even do much research for this film. His representation of small-town America is a mish-mash of idyllic stereotypes.
Derek A

This is a complete waste of time. A lame movie chalk full of many great actors. Did all these guys owe the director a favor??? I'm really not fond of movies about making a movie, especially when they're supposed to be "comedy" but with a some what serious tone.… More
This is a complete waste of time. A lame movie chalk full of many great actors. Did all these guys owe the director a favor??? I'm really not fond of movies about making a movie, especially when they're supposed to be "comedy" but with a some what serious tone. It was extremely tedious. I just didn't get it... avoid this crap fest!!
Aaron N

Walt Price: How are we coming with the dead horse scene? Marty Rossen: You can't actually kill the horse. Walt Price: Aw, fuck me! Writer/Director David Mamet uses his style of dialog in a new fashion, comedy. This is a very funny movie with a great ensemble cast. The movie… More
Walt Price: How are we coming with the dead horse scene? Marty Rossen: You can't actually kill the horse. Walt Price: Aw, fuck me! Writer/Director David Mamet uses his style of dialog in a new fashion, comedy. This is a very funny movie with a great ensemble cast. The movie revolves around a movie crew who was recently kicked out of a small town during production for some sketchy circumstances, and have now just arrived in a small Vermont town, where they will now upset their ways. Amidst the movie crew there is Philip Seymour Hoffman as the writer, William H Macy and David Paymer as director and producer, and Alec Baldwin and Sarah Jessica Parker as actors. Among them, Hoffman is great as a writer unfamiliar with the ways of Hollywood. At one point he is forced to simply create a new title and settings for the film, because the movie which is called "The Old Mill," cannot film at the old mill, because it burned down. Meanwhile, Macy and Paymer have to struggle with more funding through product placement involving somehow having "bazoomer.com" mentioned in an 18th century period film. Town Man: What happened to his finger? Ann Black: It was burned, then it was really hurt. What makes everything work so well is the Mamet style dialog, which I enjoy. Even though it is still laden with profanity, the movie glides along so smoothly with the little talking rhythms between the actors. It is a very funny movie, with quirky characters, and fun stuff involving Hollywood vs. Small town society. Ann Black: And here's some hydrogen peroxide. Joseph Turner White: I don't drink. Ann Black: It's for your finger.
Michael S

David Mamet's most funny, and light-hearted work.
Daniel P

No one saw this movie. What a shame.
Steve B

I could rate this higher if Mamet had stayed with his original ending, rather than going for the standard "Mamet-bait-and-switch" trick.
Alec B

The satire is fairly light, I don't think it hits the movie industry as hard as it wants to, but its still a pretty solid movie. I love the cast, and the scenes between Hoffman's and Pidgeon's characters never ring false or become predictable. As their relationship is… More
The satire is fairly light, I don't think it hits the movie industry as hard as it wants to, but its still a pretty solid movie. I love the cast, and the scenes between Hoffman's and Pidgeon's characters never ring false or become predictable. As their relationship is at the heart of the movie, it makes the whole thing work.
Joseph E

It was alright, but it was eriously in need of some fine tuning.
Wu C

Starts off with lots of potential, but falls short in the last couple acts.
Chosen 7

Good ensemble comedy.
Leo L

Brilliant!
Mr. C

one of the 10 worst movies EVER. Even if Julia Stiles begged me to see it again I dont think I could bring myself to do it.