Watch State and Main

State and Main is a 2000 comedy-drama film directed by David Mamet and stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, and Rebecca Pidgeon. The film tells the story of a Hollywood film crew who descended upon the small town of Waterford, Vermont to shoot a movie called The Old Mill. The film production team is led by director Walt Price (William H. Macy) and producer Marty Rossen (David Paymer). The cast is made up of the narcissistic lead actor Bob Barrenger (Alec Baldwin), his attention-seeking girlfriend Claire Wellesley (Sarah Jessica Parker), and the young actress-turned-publicist Ann Black (Pidgeon).

The film crew's arrival creates quite a stir in the quaint, idyllic town. The locals are initially excited by the prospect of a Hollywood movie being filmed in their town, seeing the potential for job opportunities, more tourists, and a boost to the town's economy. However, the production crew soon discovers that everything that can go wrong, indeed does. The first issue arises when they discover that the Old Mill that the script specifies does not exist. The film crew must immediately scramble to come up with a solution that would not compromise the script.

The lead actor, Bob, does not make matters easier, with his rather inappropriate behavior and the bad publicity he generates. He constantly hits on the local teenage girls, including Carla Taylor (Julia Stiles), who is initially excited to meet him but later feels exploited. Meanwhile, the townspeople become more and more resentful of the film crew's presence, and tensions rise as the filming progresses. The lead actress Claire Wellesley also causes tension due to her high-maintenance attitude and demands.

One of the film's main characters is the honest and sincere local bookseller, Ann Black (Pidgeon). Ann is sent to Waterford to deal with the chaos that the film crew causes. However, Ann slowly becomes disillusioned with the Hollywood film industry and the lack of artistic integrity that she witnesses. Ann and Joseph Turner, the local hardware store owner (Philip Seymour Hoffman), spark a romantic connection, and their growing relationship highlights their differences and the conflict between Hollywood and small-town America.

State and Main is a satirical, lighthearted take on the Hollywood film industry and its impact on small towns. The film explores themes of integrity and authenticity in art, and the conflict between reality and the glamorous, manufactured world of Hollywood. The entire cast delivers fantastic performances, with William H. Macy and Rebecca Pidgeon standing out, particularly because of their subtle acting style.

The film also makes use of David Mamet's signature dialogue, which is witty, fast-paced, and sometimes biting. The movie has some well-timed comedic moments, making it a great film for anyone who enjoys a good laugh. Overall, State and Main is an enjoyable film that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. It provides a unique and refreshing take on the film industry, being both an ode to it and a criticism of it.

State and Main is a 2000 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 75.