Intermission: Oscar hopefuls make their way to Springfield

"State and Main"

Directed by: David Mamet

Starring: William H. Macy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alec Baldwin

Rated: R

As Oscar time approaches, films released in December 2000 are making it to our market. It makes for a weekend with more new films on screen in Springfield than we've had for some time.

Any time I see that a David Mamet movie one he wrote, or wrote and directed is on its way, I get excited. He is one of the few writers in Hollywood who consistently turns out thought-provoking and finely crafted screenplays. His scripts ("Glengary Glen Ross," "The Spanish Prisoner," "House of Games") stand out with fine character development and eloquent dialogue.

Knowing that Mamet was going to poke a bit of fun at the movie industry with "State and Main" made the prospect all the more enticing.

In the vein of Robert Altman's "The Player," and "Living in Oblivion," directed by Tom DiCillo, Mamet gives us a tongue-in-cheek look at the goings on that surround the making of a major motion picture.

Actors love to work with Mamet. His cast here is top-notch William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin, Sarah Jessica Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Mamet's wife, Rebecca Pidgeon all seem to relish roles so well-written they just have to be fun to bring to life.

"State and Main" concerns a film crew that, because of its leading man's penchant for young (really young) women, has had to change shooting locations just before production is to begin. The film, called "The Old Mill," relocates to the town of Waterford, Vt., mostly to save the cost of rebuilding the mill featured in the title.

But nobody bothered to find out that Waterford's famous old mill burned down in 1960. Top this off with the fact that the female star decided she doesn't want to do the nude scene. William H. Macy, as the director, takes these and many other problems in stride. He deals with them in the most "Hollywood" fashion: Throw money!

A side story has the film's sweetheart of a writer, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, in a romance with the local bookstore owner played by Pidgeon. It's only fitting that a writer such as Mamet would have the screenwriter the most sympathetic character in the film.

"State and Main" is a clever, and at times touching, movie. I'm glad to be reassured that there are still people in Hollywood who care more about making great movies than turning out box-office bonanzas.

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"

Directed by: Ang Lee

Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Michele Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi

Rated: PG-13

There is really no proper way to describe Ang Lee's elegant take on martial art movies, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." It's a movie that must be seen to be believed. All of the elements of classic kung-fu action movies are here but Lee has taken the genre to new heights.

The director has always had a knack for creating an emotional link to the audience and all of his work has a dreamy, somewhat melancholy feel. His early films, "The Wedding Banquet," "Eat, Drink, Man, Woman," were subtly emotional and his work in Hollywood, the Oscar-winning "Sense and Sensibility," and "The Ice Storm," stayed true to his style.

What he does in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is nothing short of amazing and even though the film is in Chinese (with English subtitles) it surely will be a huge commercial success. Guys will dig it for the fights, women will get involved with the romantic aspects.

(Jim Wunderle works at Associated Video Producers and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.)