State And Main (2000)

A group of Hollywood film makers invade a sleepy Vermont town to make a film called THE OLD MILL. This wreaks havoc on its citizens as the movie company takes over the town while the town itself is divided over the presence of the film company. Written and directed by David Mamet (GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS). Although he's a much admired playwright, I've never been a fan of Mamet's work. I'll concede that maybe I just don't "get" him but there's a smugness about his work that puts me off. For example, he's very condescending to the townspeople in the movie with the exception of the bookstore owner (perhaps not coincidentally played by Mamet's wife, Rebecca Pidgeon). So we're left with a movie filled with shallow narcissistic film people and gullible country bumpkins. It may be satire but its complacent attitude turns it sour. On the plus side, Mamet has assembled a mostly strong cast of actors though William H. Macy (is it me or is he  overrated?) goes over the top. The rest of the cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alec Baldwin as an actor with a predilection for underage girls, Sarah Jessica Parker, Charles Durning, Patti LuPone, Julia Stiles, David Paymer and Clark Gregg.