Head of State

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Head of State ★★ 2003 (PG-13)

Just because Rock played a director in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” doesn't mean he can do it in real life, at least not yet. Rock plays Mays Gilliam, a D.C. alderman drafted to run for President after the unnamed party's candidates die in a plane crash. The party leadership doesn't want him to win, just provide diversity cred for the next election. With his brother Mitch (Mac) as running mate, Mays fights his handlers to create his own identity. Unfortunately, in the hands of writer and director Rock, candidate Rock isn't given much consistent identity to work with. Maybe with a proven director, and more than token effort at plot and characterization, this one might've been better. 95m/C VHS, DVD . US Chris Rock, Bernie Mac, Dylan Baker, Nick Searcy, Lynn Whitfield, Robin Givens, Tamala Jones, Stephanie March, James Rebhorn, Keith David, Tracy Morgan, Robert Stanton, Jude Ciccolella, Nate Dogg; D: Chris Rock; W: Chris Rock, Ali LeRoi; C: Donald E. Thorin; M: Marcus Miller, David “DJ Quik” Blake.

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