State and Main

Director: David Mamet
Year Released: 2000
Rating: 2.5

Somewhat dry, occasionally witty "satire" of the moviemaking process, documenting the obvious polarity between Hollywood/L.A. and, surprise, small-town America - territory that's been covered in several other (better) films and even by Mamet himself (to a degree) in his non-play writings. It looks harried but never seems fresh or really cutting - Sarah Jessica Parker's try at an Evian-swilling Princess is less Parker acting than Parker mocking herself. David Paymer, of all people, is the only one with a pulse in the damn thing; he steals every scene he's in. Can't get enough of Alec Baldwin's "little problem" with young girls, though (the line, "Everyone needs a hobby" is a classic).