State and Main

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State and Main ★★★ 2000 (R)

Hollywood filmmakers descend on a small New England town, which promptly becomes dazzled by all the showbiz glitter. Much of the story rotates around Hoffman, who plays the down-to-earth writer forced to rewrite his script entitled “The Old Mill” after the crew discovers the town's mill burned down years ago. Meanwhile, he becomes concerned when he realizes the film's star (Baldwin) has become involved with a local teenaged girl. Macy and Lu-Pone, Mamet regulars, also enliven the cast. Entertaining, satirical look at Hollywood egos bumping up against middle America. Not too many guffaws, but nice to see Mamet lighten things up with a comedy. 90m/C VHS, DVD . Alec Baldwin, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Julia Stiles, David Paymer, Rebecca Pidgeon, Sarah Jessica Parker, Charles Durning, Patti LuPone; D: David Mamet; W: David Mamet; C: Oliver Stapleton; M: Theodore Shapiro.

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