State and Main
Encyclopedia
State and Main is a 2000 comedy film
, written
and directed
by David Mamet
and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman
and Rebecca Pidgeon
, about the on-location production in Waterford, Vermont
of a film called The Old Mill. The actual film was shot in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
; Beverly, Massachusetts
; Dedham, Massachusetts
; and Waltham, Massachusetts
.
), places his faith in the ability of first-time screenwriter Joseph Turner White (Philip Seymour Hoffman
) to alter the script; what he doesn't count on is White's apparently bottomless reserve of angst-fueled writer's block. The film's leading lady (Sarah Jessica Parker
) refuses to do her contracted nude scene unless she's paid an additional $800,000, while a foreign cinematographer offends the locals by messing with a historic firehouse, and the leading man, Bob Barrenger (Alec Baldwin
), dallies with Carla (Julia Stiles
), a crafty local teen. Everything comes to a head after Barrenger and Carla are injured in a car accident, which leads White (the only witness) to another emotional quandary and into the arms of local bookseller Annie Black (Rebecca Pidgeon
). Meanwhile a powerful movie producer (David Paymer
) comes to town to help Price with the ensuing mess.
Chicago Film Critics Association
Chlotrudis Awards
Florida Film Critics Circle
Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival
Won: Best Supporting Male (William H. Macy)
National Board of Review
Online Film Critics Society
)
Nominated: Best Screenplay (David Mamet)
Satellite Awards
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
, written
Screenwriting
Screenwriting is the art and craft of writing scripts for mass media such as feature films, television productions or video games. It is a freelance profession....
and directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by David Mamet
David Mamet
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, essayist, screenwriter and film director.Best known as a playwright, Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received a Tony nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross . He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow . As a screenwriter, he received Oscar...
and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman is an American actor and director. Hoffman began acting in television in 1991, and the following year started to appear in films...
and Rebecca Pidgeon
Rebecca Pidgeon
Rebecca Pidgeon is a British actress and singer-songwriter. She has maintained a recording career while also acting on stage and in feature films. She is married to the American writer and director David Mamet.-Early life:...
, about the on-location production in Waterford, Vermont
Waterford, Vermont
Waterford is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,104 at the 2000 census.The town was originally called Littleton but the name was changed to Waterford in 1797.-Geography:...
of a film called The Old Mill. The actual film was shot in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
Manchester-by-the-Sea is a town on Cape Ann, in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 5,228.-History:...
; Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 39,343 on , which differs by no more than several hundred from the 39,862 obtained in the 2000 census. A resort, residential and manufacturing community on the North Shore, Beverly includes Beverly Farms and Prides...
; Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
; and Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, was an early center for the labor movement, and major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning,...
.
Synopsis
State and Main centers on the havoc wrought on the inhabitants of a small town by a troubled film production. After the leading man's penchant for teenage girls gets them banished from their New Hampshire location, a film crew relocates to the small town of Waterford, Vermont, to finish shooting "The Old Mill." As its title suggests, the film depends on the presence of a genuine mill, something the town is reported to possess. Unfortunately, with only days before principal photography begins, it becomes apparent that the mill in fact burned down decades ago. Unfazed, the film's director, Walt Price (William H. MacyWilliam H. Macy
William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
), places his faith in the ability of first-time screenwriter Joseph Turner White (Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman is an American actor and director. Hoffman began acting in television in 1991, and the following year started to appear in films...
) to alter the script; what he doesn't count on is White's apparently bottomless reserve of angst-fueled writer's block. The film's leading lady (Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker is an American film, television, and theater actress and producer.She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City , for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards...
) refuses to do her contracted nude scene unless she's paid an additional $800,000, while a foreign cinematographer offends the locals by messing with a historic firehouse, and the leading man, Bob Barrenger (Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin
Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons before his character was killed off...
), dallies with Carla (Julia Stiles
Julia Stiles
Julia O'Hara Stiles is an American actress.After beginning her career in small parts in a New York City theatre troupe, she has moved on to leading roles in plays by writers as diverse as William Shakespeare and David Mamet...
), a crafty local teen. Everything comes to a head after Barrenger and Carla are injured in a car accident, which leads White (the only witness) to another emotional quandary and into the arms of local bookseller Annie Black (Rebecca Pidgeon
Rebecca Pidgeon
Rebecca Pidgeon is a British actress and singer-songwriter. She has maintained a recording career while also acting on stage and in feature films. She is married to the American writer and director David Mamet.-Early life:...
). Meanwhile a powerful movie producer (David Paymer
David Paymer
David Paymer is an American actor and television director, seen in such films as Quiz Show, Searching for Bobby Fischer, City Slickers, Crazy People, State and Main, Payback, Get Shorty, Carpool, The American President, Ocean's Thirteen, and Drag Me to Hell...
) comes to town to help Price with the ensuing mess.
Awards and nominations
- Casting Society of AmericaCasting Society of AmericaFounded in Los Angeles, California in 1982, the Casting Society of America is a professional society of about 350 casting directors for film, television, and theatre in Australia, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. The society is not to be confused with an industry union. The...
Chicago Film Critics Association
The Chicago Film Critics Association is an American film critic association.-Members:Current members include:*Sarah Knight Adamson*Zbigniew Banas*Shelley Cameron*Dave Canfield*Vittorio Carli*Erik Childress*Camerin Courtney*Bonnie DeShong...
- Nominated: Best Screenplay (David Mamet)
- Nominated: Best Original Screenplay (David Mamet)
- Nominated: Best Cast
Florida Film Critics Circle
The Florida Film Critics Circle is an organization of film reviewers from fourteen Florida-based publications and websites. In December, the FFCC meets to vote on their awards for films released during that year.- Categories :* Best Actor...
- Won: Best Ensemble Cast
- Won: Best Screenplay (David Mamet)
- Won: Best Acting by an Ensemble
Online Film Critics Society
The Online Film Critics Society is a professional association for film critics who publish their reviews, interviews, and essays on the Internet.The OFCS was founded in 1997...
Almost Famous
Almost Famous is a 2000 musical comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe and telling the fictional story of a teenage journalist writing for Rolling Stone magazine while covering the fictitious rock band Stillwater , and his efforts to get his first cover story published...
)
Satellite Awards
The Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards.- Film :*Best Actor – Drama*Best Actor – Musical or Comedy*Best Actress – Drama...
- Nominated: Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
- Nominated: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Comedy or Musical (Rebecca Pidgeon)
- Nominated: Best Screenplay - Original (David Mamet)
Full cast
- Michael HigginsMichael Higgins (actor)Michael Patrick Higgins was an American actor who appeared in film and on stage, and was best known for his role in the original Broadway production of Equus.-Early life:...
- Doc Wilson - Michael BradshawMichael BradshawMichael Bradshaw was an English/Canadian actor.- Early life in England :Born in Plumstead, London, he grew up Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire to the north west of London...
- Town Priest - Morris Lamore - Bunky
- Allen Soule - Spud
- Clark GreggClark GreggRobert Clark Gregg is an American actor, screenwriter and director. He co-starred as Christine Campbell's ex-husband Richard in the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine, which debuted in March 2006 and concluded in May 2010...
- Doug Mackenzie - Rebecca PidgeonRebecca PidgeonRebecca Pidgeon is a British actress and singer-songwriter. She has maintained a recording career while also acting on stage and in feature films. She is married to the American writer and director David Mamet.-Early life:...
- Ann - Ricky JayRicky JayRichard Jay Potash , better known by the stage name Ricky Jay, is an American stage magician, actor, and writer. He is a sleight-of-hand expert and is notable for his card tricks, card throwing, memory feats, and stage patter.-Life and career:...
- Jack - Julia StilesJulia StilesJulia O'Hara Stiles is an American actress.After beginning her career in small parts in a New York City theatre troupe, she has moved on to leading roles in plays by writers as diverse as William Shakespeare and David Mamet...
- Carla - Matt Malloy - Hotel Clerk
- Charles DurningCharles DurningCharles Durning is an American actor. With appearances in over 100 films, Durning's memorable roles include police officers in the Oscar-winning The Sting and crime drama Dog Day Afternoon , along with the comedies Tootsie, To Be Or Not To Be and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the last two...
- Mayor George Bailey - Tony V - Water Delivery Man
- Tony Mamet - Electrician
- Jack Wallace - Bellhop
- Michael James O'Boyle - Chuckie
- Charlotte Potok - Maude
- Christopher Kaldor - Officer Cal Thompkin
- Frederic Levy - Gun Store Owner (as Rick Levy)
- J. J. JohnstonJ. J. JohnstonJ.J. Johnston is an American theatre and film actor and boxing historian and writer.-Books:Johnston, a former amateur boxer, is the author of several books on the history of boxing....
- Stationmaster - Patti LuPonePatti LuPonePatti Ann LuPone is an American singer and actress, known for her Tony Award-winning performances as Eva Perón in the 1979 stage musical Evita and as Madame Rose in the 2008 Broadway revival of Gypsy, and for her Olivier Award-winning performance as Fantine in the original London cast of Les...
- Sherry Bailey - Dick Friedman - Postman (as Richard L. Friedman)
- Kolbie McCabe - Girl on Scooter
- Emma Norman - Fisherwoman
- Dee Nelson - Decorator
- Brian Howe - Bartender
- Robert Walsh - Trooper #1
- G. Roy Levin - Salesman with Rubber Duck
- Matthew Pidgeon - B.B.G. TV Reporter
- Danny Hovanesian - Bailiff (as Daniel G. Hovanesian)
- Jerry Graff - Fake Judge
- Timothy Jernigan-Smith - Billy on Bike
- Paul Butler - Real Judge
- Alexandra Kerry - Television Director
- Ken CheesemanKen CheesemanKen Cheeseman is an American film, television and stage actor. He may be best known for his appearances on the Law & Order franchise television series...
- Trooper #2 - Jordan Lage - Doc Morten
- William H. MacyWilliam H. MacyWilliam Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
- Walt Price - Lionel Mark SmithLionel Mark SmithLionel Mark Smith was an American actor.He appeared in several movies including Homicide, Edmond, State and Main and Spartan. He also appeared on such television series as Seinfeld, NYPD Blue, Beverly Hills, 90210 and Hill Street Blues.His last appearance was in the 2007 horror film Stuck...
- Bill Smith - Vincent Guastaferro - Uberto Pazzi-Sforzo
- Linda Kimbrough - Courtney
- Philip Seymour HoffmanPhilip Seymour HoffmanPhilip Seymour Hoffman is an American actor and director. Hoffman began acting in television in 1991, and the following year started to appear in films...
- Joseph Turner White - Jim Frangione - Tommy Max
- Alec BaldwinAlec BaldwinAlexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons before his character was killed off...
- Bob Barrenger - Lana Bilzerian - Girl PA
- Sarah Jessica ParkerSarah Jessica ParkerSarah Jessica Parker is an American film, television, and theater actress and producer.She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City , for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards...
- Claire Wellesley - Laura SilvermanLaura Silverman-External links:...
- Secretary - David PaymerDavid PaymerDavid Paymer is an American actor and television director, seen in such films as Quiz Show, Searching for Bobby Fischer, City Slickers, Crazy People, State and Main, Payback, Get Shorty, Carpool, The American President, Ocean's Thirteen, and Drag Me to Hell...
- Marty Rossen - Josh Marchette - Production Assistant
- Jonathan KatzJonathan KatzJonathan Paul Katz is an American comedian, actor, and voice actor who is best known for his starring role in the animated sitcom Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist...
- Howie Gold - John KrasinskiJohn KrasinskiJohn Burke Krasinski is an American actor, film director, and writer. He is most widely known for playing Jim Halpert on the NBC sitcom The Office...
- Caddy / Judge's assistant(uncredited) - Alan Francis - Vermont State Trooper (uncredited)
- Darrell Geer - Vermont State Trooper (uncredited)
- Cindy Lentol - Reporter (uncredited)
- Molly Levine - Girl pictured in Magazine (uncredited)
- Kevin Foster McCarthy - Airport Van Driver (uncredited)
- Todd Poudrier - Production Assistant (uncredited)
- Kate Super - Production Assistant (uncredited)