Ricky-Jay Movie Reviews
who gets the house?
A great movieAfter a number of years as a professional architect, Don grows sullen and much too somber when compared with Rebecca who has always been bright and a little flighty. But, she made Don laugh -- until recently. Now there is a stern and so proper husband living with a still fun-loving wife. Not a good combination. And how four very pleasant and intelligent kids were produced by this dueling duo is beyond me. But it is just a movie.
When Jennifer, the daughter of a lawyer and a very good friend of Emily, the oldest of the Reece kids learns of the plans of Don and Rebecca, she remembers some of her father's legal dealings and arranges for a judge to draw up an order of possession of the house should the parent split, i.e., who gets the house.
When Don and Rebecca finally tell the kids they are separating, the kids were prepared. The legal order of the judge was that if the parents split up, the kids get the house and the parents get alternating weekly visitation. But still the kids are not at all happy with the separation, so they devise devices to get mom and dad back together. And that is probably the best part of this very, very good movie. I will not spoil any more of it for you and hope that you find the tape of this movie....
Welcome to David Mamet's State and Main, the acclaimed writer-director's funniest and most accessible film to date, propelled by the rocket fuel of Mamet's show-biz experience and driven by an ensemble cast that simply couldn't be better. Naturally, the writer's dilemma is the meatiest one--will he be noble or sell out?--and Mamet arrives at a solution that's as hilarious as it is morally justified. Along the way, the rigors of filmmaking are explored with farcical abandon, such as how to provide a high-tech product placement... in a 19th-century story. Mamet's razor-sharp dialogue is gourmet popcorn here--each kernel yields a tasty surprise--and the whole scenario (intentionally modeled in the style of Preston Sturges) plays out with the breezy assurance of vintage screwball comedy. It's pure gold from start to finish, and even the closing credits offer another reason to laugh. --Jeff Shannon
Lights! Camera! Action!......Get Ready To Laugh!...There's trouble with a capitol "T" brewing in Waterford, Vermont as a Hollywood film crew descends on this folksy little town, where everybody knows your name.But who's running the show is the question? Find out in this hilarious story that has one of the best casts ever assembled.
Written and Directed by David Mamet, a small town discovers they are to be the location of a big budget film. The crew arrives and immediatly takes over the hotel, and the main streets of town. The Hollywood types from the quirky director(William H Macy) to the lecherous movie star(Alec Baldwin)are in a take charge frame of mind. But wait...The townfolk also want in on the action.You'll laugh your way through, as you meet the actress(Sarah Jessica Parker) who has second thoughts on her provacative scenes, the writer(Philip Seymour Hoffman) who finds love and scruples in the small town,the teenage girl(Julia Stiles)who causes a scandal and a lawsuit, and the Producer(David Paymner) who will stop at nothing to get this film made. The cast also includes Charles Durning, Patti Lupone and Rebecca Pidgeon.They will all have you laughing.And if you stay through the credits you'll be treated to some very funny stuff.
The DVD may be viewed in either the widescreen 2.35:1 aspect or a standard format if you prefer. The picture is clear and sharp with vibrant colors. The 5.1 Surround sound is great and you can watch the film with commentary by some of the stars if you choose. The DVD also has DVD-ROM. There are English subtitles if needed.
This tounge-in-cheek humor gets better with each viewing..go for it....Laurie
Sweet, charming, and delightfully satiricalThe ensemble cast features some of Mamet's favorite actors, including the wonderful William Macy as the smooth-talking director who is determined to get his movie made no matter what, and the always-quirky Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the sensitive author who struggles to keep up with the ever-changing demands that reality makes on his screenplay. Sarah Jessica Parker plays the leading lady brilliantly, showing us a woman with beauty and charm and animal grace who can scarcely speak a complete sentence unless she's reading it from a script.... Alec Baldwin's performance is less notable; he never really seems to take on the character of the film's skirt-chasing star, but seems to be merely playing himself.
The real standout is the terrific performance by Rebecca Pidgeon whose luminous presence really steals the film and makes her character's romance with the writer the main plot focus. She's a bookseller, and like most of the people in this small, out of the way town, is much smarter than anyone in the production company (or for that matter watching the movie) expects them to be. Her dialogues with Hoffman are intimate, artful, creative, and ultimately rather unrealistic, but then, this isn't a very realistic film, and if the illusion of real life is important to you, you might give this one a miss. If you're willing to concede Mamet his artifice, this sweet, charming story should delight the small-town intellectual in everyone.
Everyone Gets a Second Chance
Wait for this one on [tv] - Mamet disappointsThis movie has a great cast including Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito and Delroy Lindo among others. The movie starts off great in typical Mamet fashion, but something happens along the way. The ending of the movie is just abrupt, rushed and comes out of nowhere. The ending left me feeling like the director didn't have time to finish the movie, explain the sub-plots.... I wish I hadn't bought the movie now as it's probably better to just catch it on [tv]. If you're looking for a great movie, get 'The Spanish Prisoner' instead.
I wish I could have given this movie 3 and a half stars, but Amazon doesn't allow for that and so I'm giving it a 3.
The Real ScoreThe script itself is a faithful model of the genre tweaked with Mamet's unique dialogue. And while DeVito and the great Ricky Jay are blessed with some sweet zingers, this is the first time where it seems a little stilted and tired. It still ranks as a top drawer script, especially when compared to the depressingly dull typing that usually passes for genre writing, but occassionally, with Hackman and Lindo, it breaks the spell of the movie. Which is in NO way meant to denigrate the terrific work done by those two great actors. They bring an emotional heft to the story that is a pleasure to watch.
Rebecca Pidgeon is a unique actress who manages the difficult trick of being brainy, sexy, aloof and intriguing all at the same time. She has been unfairly maligned by some critics to the point of libel and it is their loss because she is a true talent and a breath of fresh air when it comes to movie actresses. Her work in State & Main was one of last year's most overlooked great performances and she expertly pitches her performance here to maximize the tension and keep the audience guessing. My only quibble is that it is hard to buy her ditching Hackman for Sam Rockwell.
Definitely one of the better movies from MametWhat I hate about his style (and I'm not alone) is that truly, no one in the world speaks the way his characters do. The conversation is furiously paced, but dry. Usually, it's because he's a playwright, and on the stage, there's not a whole to do besides just speak. So the language is important, the style is important. Watch The Big Kahuna and American Buffalo to see what I mean. But Mamet might have realized, fortunately, is that in movies, ACTION is available, and ACTION is wanted. Talk is only a part of the equation. So, naturally, when he directs, he's very rough and can be quite boring. But State And Main was better, and Heist, I think, is actually a good action/crime movie, after all.
To enjoy Heist, you have to suspend your disbelief of the way the people talk. And you will be redeemed by the intelligence with which the plot unfolds. Some of it is even funny.
P.S. If you cannot stand Mamet's directing but like his style, better watch Hoffa, Glen Gary Glenross, or Wag the Dog.
Wait for this one on [tv] - Mamet disappointsThis movie has a great cast including Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito and Delroy Lindo among others. The movie starts off great in typical Mamet fashion, but something happens along the way. The ending of the movie is just abrupt, rushed and comes out of nowhere. The ending left me feeling like the director didn't have time to finish the movie, explain the sub-plots.... I wish I hadn't bought the movie now as it's probably better to just catch it on [tv]. If you're looking for a great movie, get 'The Spanish Prisoner' instead.
I wish I could have given this movie 3 and a half stars, but Amazon doesn't allow for that and so I'm giving it a 3.
The Real ScoreThe script itself is a faithful model of the genre tweaked with Mamet's unique dialogue. And while DeVito and the great Ricky Jay are blessed with some sweet zingers, this is the first time where it seems a little stilted and tired. It still ranks as a top drawer script, especially when compared to the depressingly dull typing that usually passes for genre writing, but occassionally, with Hackman and Lindo, it breaks the spell of the movie. Which is in NO way meant to denigrate the terrific work done by those two great actors. They bring an emotional heft to the story that is a pleasure to watch.
Rebecca Pidgeon is a unique actress who manages the difficult trick of being brainy, sexy, aloof and intriguing all at the same time. She has been unfairly maligned by some critics to the point of libel and it is their loss because she is a true talent and a breath of fresh air when it comes to movie actresses. Her work in State & Main was one of last year's most overlooked great performances and she expertly pitches her performance here to maximize the tension and keep the audience guessing. My only quibble is that it is hard to buy her ditching Hackman for Sam Rockwell.
Definitely one of the better movies from MametWhat I hate about his style (and I'm not alone) is that truly, no one in the world speaks the way his characters do. The conversation is furiously paced, but dry. Usually, it's because he's a playwright, and on the stage, there's not a whole to do besides just speak. So the language is important, the style is important. Watch The Big Kahuna and American Buffalo to see what I mean. But Mamet might have realized, fortunately, is that in movies, ACTION is available, and ACTION is wanted. Talk is only a part of the equation. So, naturally, when he directs, he's very rough and can be quite boring. But State And Main was better, and Heist, I think, is actually a good action/crime movie, after all.
To enjoy Heist, you have to suspend your disbelief of the way the people talk. And you will be redeemed by the intelligence with which the plot unfolds. Some of it is even funny.
P.S. If you cannot stand Mamet's directing but like his style, better watch Hoffa, Glen Gary Glenross, or Wag the Dog.
GET THEIR MOM AND DAD BACK TOGETHER. THE CHILDREN ASKED
FOR CUSTODY OF THE HOUSE AND THE PARENTS HAD TO TAKE TURNS
STAYING WITH THEM. THOUGHT THIS WAS A VERY NOVEL IDEA.
BOTH MOM AND DAD LOVED EACH OTHER BUT WERE UNABLE TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM.
AN EXCELLENT ENDING ON THE MOVIE AND GOOD LESSONS ON LOVE.