Posted by Kevin at dhcp64-134-55-221.four.nyc.wayport.net on December 31, 2001 at 19:04:41:
In Reply to: What the fuck was wrong with State and Main... posted by Bankyrox123 on December 31, 2001 at 16:36:40:
: with all do respect and hoping not to piss you off,
Not at all, brother. Here, we're free to disagree.
: it was classic Mamet comedy.
No. See, most of "Wag the Dog" was classic Mamet comedy (under
Levinson's direction). "State and Main" was just painful and forced.
For a better version of Hollywood vs. Smalltown, see "Sweet Liberty."
: It was smart and swift, and in my opinion, it was the best movie in
what was ultimately a very very weak year(2000).
Get out of here! Really? The best? Not for me.
: So what if its not his best?
Look, even if it wasn't Mamet's, I'd still feel the same way about it.
This isn't a case of "Well, it's no 'House of Games'..." This is a case
of "Wow. This isn't my cup of tea at all."
: So what if in any other year it'd be luck to be in my top 5?
I should hope so.
But then again, thanks to how weak 2001 was, "Jay and Silent Bob"
snuck into your top ten of this year.
: Its no Spanish Prisoner or Glangarry but its still fucking great.
Different strokes, man.
And "Glengary" should't count, techincially, as Mamet didn't direct it.
: Every director has fluxuations in their work. Mallrats begats Chasing
Amy, meaning: just because a film is you're lowest point dosen't
mean its bad.
Again - I don't feel this a good director in a slump. Like I said, you
could've showed me that flick without telling me Mamet made it, and
I'd still feel the same way.
:I loved Mallrats, was it your best work, in my humble opinion, no, but
was it still good? Yes.
Thanks.
But that's not how I feel about "State and Main."
: Should the film be attacked because its not as good as Clerks,
Chasing Amy, Dogma, of J&SBSB? Fuck no, the fact it that your worst
film is still better than some people's best (Frank Corraci of The
Waterboy and Wedding Singer for example). Mamet's State and Main
was fun and undemanding. It was intelligent without being about its
intelligence. So what if it wasn't a puzzle picture, it was still great.
Again - this isn't about comparing said flick to the rest of Mamet's
repertoire. This is about, in my opinion, "State and Main" not being
very good.
And, mind you, I love Mamet most days.
: Oh, and Mamet does improve with Heist, it is endlessly clever and
unbelievably twisty and turny, the diologue is pitch perfect Mamet and
everything about the movie works.
Can't wait to see it.