Mametian comedy - who'da thunk it?

David Mamet has got a distinctive style that usually screams for drama, as in The Untouchables or thrilling intrigue like Glengarry Glenross. The dialogue he writes is so off the cuff and non-committal that his characters are forced to fulfill their roles with talent. This is why I watch out for him and why I will see anything he writes (movie-wise, have only seen one play of his as plays are more expensive) because I know that I may not love it but I will walk out of the theater with some form of respect.

His latest creation is actually a comedy, which is surprising even after the perfectly crafted The Spanish Prisoner. And with a cast that can boast Alec Baldwin as a Hollywood playboy, William H. Macy as the multi-faced director, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as a romantic lead, there is little doubt in my mind that this will be a broad crowd pleaser.

State and Main takes place in the middle of bumchuck Vermont (even if it was filmed in Massachusetts) as a film crew takes over because they were ousted from New Hampshire due to the lead actor’s (Alec Baldwin) indiscretions. The writer, Joseph Turner White, (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman) is dragged emotionally from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other as the director, Walt Price (William H. Macy) sweet talks him into staying but consistently badgers him about rewriting scenes. Some locals are against the film shooting, such as the fiancé of Annie Black (Rebecca Pidgeon), who is running for office but is encouraged in his attack on the film when White and Annie strike up a relationship.

Even though you may think you could predict what will happen from one scene to the next, Mamet’s humor shines through the dialogue and the silences he is so talented at, to create a spontaneity that others just couldn’t pull off. Sure, you can see what the next scene will entail, but you will never be able to guess how it will play out and it makes all of the interactions on the screen fresh for the audience. I couldn’t even stop laughing at jokes I’ve heard used hundreds of times.

There are also some unexpected plot shifts thrown in, not for the sake of a “who is responsible” ending that has become rampant since The Usual Suspects, but with complete originality. For instance, how often do you see a woman trust the man that she adores when she catches him stammering because he’s been caught with a naked woman in his room. Yes, it may happen in real life (and I’ve even known such occasions) but how often does it happen in the movies? Or how a court scene is set up for a character to testify, only to have it be a sham because his girlfriend thought he might “need to get it out of his system.”

As for the actual environment of established in the film, it’s a good example of how things run behind the scenes during production without being displayed in such a way that it needs extra exposition for an audience that doesn’t know what filming is like. I’ve been on several film sets during the beginning of my career, and though I could relate to some of the humor because of that, I don’t think I had a better chance of enjoying it than someone who hasn’t. In fact, you could really translate this dependency and tension that goes with this crew to just about any profession where people work in close quarters for an extended period of time because the basic group dynamic works the same.

The characters, though sometimes typical, merge together so well on screen that you forget they are so transparent. Alec Baldwin plays a stereotypical Hollywood gigolo (especially for adolescent girls) with the role of Bob Barenger, there is such aplomb when he utters “Everyone has to have a hobby” that it still strikes the funny bone. Macy is brilliant as he seamlessly shifts from deep sincerity to the extremity of threats. Hoffman is humble and sweet and makes a fine pair with Pidgeon’s tenacity and intelligence. Even Sarah Jessica Parker gets a few laughs as the airhead who wants to be paid to show her breasts. I won’t go through the entire list of characters but I want to note that each, no matter how small, were entertaining for every moment of screen time.

The flip side of a film within a film scenario is Living in Oblivion, which is also a humorous look at a low budget film during production. It’s also good at setting the scene for how things get done (or don’t) but it takes the fantasy path to comedy, delving into the dreams of each cast or crew member on set. Where it shows merit and I enjoyed it when I saw it, I admire this more because it bases the human interaction in everyday experience and so makes the characters and even the film they are making that much more interesting and personal.

I found few drawbacks to the movie. Every once in a while Mamet will introduce a few too many coincidences about “second chances” as referenced in the film they are making. Or how suddenly Julia Stiles character accuses Bob of taking advantage of her when denying everything all along, this was a bit too much of a fixed plot device for me. Sarah Jessica Parker has a few funny lines but she is a one-note character that can get old quick (or maybe it’s just me because I’ve never really respected her.)

However, these details are minor considering the overall interest in what is happening before our eyes. This is a fun movie for all ages, and whether or not you know anything about film production, you are sure to enjoy it.