Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

State and Main Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 29, 2021

Trying to expand his range and take on a different type of storytelling challenge, writer/director David Mamet made “The Winslow Boy” in 1999. It was his first and last G-rated endeavor, focusing on a mild period drama about family, law, and society. The art house release didn’t attract much attention, inspiring Mamet to return to his old stomping grounds, making a new R-rated feature about troubled people caught in a multitude of problems. 2000’s “State and Main” finds the helmer in a cheeky mood, mounting a satire of the filmmaking process and Hollywood politics, managing fears, leers, and moral uncertainty while paying tribute to classic comedy timing and hectic screen activity. Mamet has the inspiration and the subject, but laughs aren’t plentiful in “State and Main,” which tries a little too hard to be cutesy instead of merciless as the material surveys a collision of corrupt “movie people” and weird small-town folk. A grand escalation of madness seems to be the idea here, but Mamet has difficulty getting to a point of insanity with a lukewarm sense of humor.

The small Vermont town of Waterford has just been invaded by Hollywood, with the production of “The Old Mill” on a desperate quest to find a new location after being kicked out of New Hampshire. All director Walt (William H. Macy) needs is an old mill, working with his crew and producer Marty (David Paymer) to charm the Mayor (Charles Durning), hoping to secure control of Waterford as they create their period piece. Everything goes wrong for the company, finding actor Bob (Alec Baldwin) flirting with teenager Carla (Julia Stiles), co-star Claire (Sarah Jessica Parker) suddenly refuses to do a nude scene she was contractually obligated to provide, and screenwriter Joseph (Philip Seymour Hoffman) struggles to find his inspiration, making a special connection to Ann (Rebecca Pidgeon), a local with her own interests in the art of creating drama.

“State and Main” makes various attempts to be a farce, finding early scenes embracing the mayhem of the Hollywood system trying squeeze its way into a quaint Vermont town. Walt is the captain, leading his troops into the streets and homes of Waterford, using his seasoned ways to make things happen for the production, which has been struggling since filming ended in New Hampshire. Mamet gets things off to a strong start in “State and Main,” creating idiosyncratic characters with problems to manage, including Bob, who’s got a thing for underage girls, finding an interested target in Carla, with Walt working ridiculously hard to keep the two separated. The director is also pushing to keep Claire undressed, finding the actress suddenly hesitant to showcase her breasts without a boost in pay. And there’s Joseph, who’s lost in the whirlwind of moviemaking, finding help from Ann, a local community theater director watching her own theatrical dream get squashed by the chaos of “The Old Mill.” Ann’s a bright spirit and helpful, with Mamet trying to warm the story up by introducing a romantic element to her time with Joseph, keeping them flirty as they work to solve issues with the script and each other.

“State and Main” has snappy timing, with Mamet’s usual machine gun dialogue lightened by comedic intentions. He also has a fondness for pantsing the Hollywood experience, toying with Judaism, crew manipulation, and the illusion of importance as Walt pushes hard to get the feature back up and running, putting out fires everywhere. The speed of the picture is impressive, but its sense of humor lacks bite, as Mamet pokes fun as associate producer credits and references creative corruption as Walt discusses the grosses of “Gandhi II.” The only real element of “State and Main” that has teeth is Bob’s mental illness, which keeps his handlers busy working to shield a predatory man from actual legal consequences -- not to protect his victims, but to protect their financial investment in his star power. Mamet could do more of that, but he mostly takes it easy, enjoying pushover bits about local rubes reading Variety, the Mayor and his wife (Patti LuPone) arranging an elaborate dinner for the outsiders, or setting up a running gag about a local pothole.

State and Main Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from an older scan of "State and Main." Fine detail is largely missing, with a softer view of facial particulars and costuming. Town tours aren't sharply dimensional. Colors show some age, but primaries are present, offering brighter reds and blues. Woodsier interiors are appreciable, and greenery is acceptable. Skintones are a bit bloodless, but still natural. Delineation is acceptable, with some solidification on darker outfits. Source is in good condition.

State and Main Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides crisp support for dialogue exchanges, with performances coming through as intended, detailing snappy interplay among the characters. Scoring is nicely defined as well, offering clear instrumentation with jazzy sounds, including pronounced bass. Surrounds secure a mild sense of community bustle and musical moods. Changes in weather are more powerful. Low-end isn't challenged.

State and Main Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features actors Sarah Jessica Parker, William H. Macy, Clark Gregg, David Paymer, and Patti LuPone.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:17, SD) is included.

State and Main Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Appreciative smiles are a more common response to events in "State and Main" than out-loud laughter, finding the cast capably handling Mamet's language but unable to extract the blend of absurdity and charm he's after with this Preston Sturges homage. "State and Main" grows darker as it goes, with the producers caught up in a legal entanglement featuring Bob that threatens to send "The Old Mill" team somewhere new. Mamet tries to use such an event as the ultimate statement of ethical and moral corruption in Hollywood, but it primarily puts the effort into park, watching Mamet get distracted trying to find a conclusion for this collection of satiric jabs when he's much better with introductions.