Main Cast: William H. Macy, Joe Mantegna, Julia Stiles, Rebecca Pidgeon, Bai Ling
Release Year: 2005
Country: US
Run Time: 82 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
David Mamet wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of his play about a man who suddenly stumbles into a new and dangerous life. Edmond Burke (William H. Macy) is on his way home from work one evening when he impulsively stops to have his fortune read by a woman who informs him, "You are not where you belong." When he does arrive home, Edmond soon falls into an argument with his wife (Rebecca Pidgeon), and he storms out into the city, where he stops at a bar for a few drinks. There, Edmond finds himself talking with a man (Joe Mantegna) who freely shares his racist views about the role of African-Americans in society, and suddenly Edmond begins letting go of the sense of self-control that has always governed his actions. After a crawl through the city's underbelly of watering holes, strip clubs, gambling dens, and brothels, Edmond comes face to face with the violence of this world, and unexpectedly finds himself responding in kind. Edmond also stars Julia Stiles, Denise Richards, Mena Suvari, Bai Ling, and Dylan Walsh; it was directed by Stuart Gordon, who worked often with David Mamet during their early days at Chicago's Organic Theater Company. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Allison Wolf - Associate Producer, Amy Gunzenhauser - Associate Producer, Lorna Umphrey - Associate Producer, Jasper Jan - Associate Producer, Shannon Makhanian - Casting, Lionel Mark Smith - Co-producer, Chad Troutwine - Co-producer, Artur Spigel - Co-producer, Carol Cutshall - Costume Designer, Scott Senechal - First Assistant Director, Stuart Gordon - Director, Andrew Horvitch - Editor, Al Corley - Executive Producer, Bart Rosenblatt - Executive Producer, Eugene Musso - Executive Producer, Hamish McAlpine - Executive Producer, Kathrin Werner - Executive Producer, Felix Werner - Executive Producer, Trisha Van Klaveren - Executive Producer, Sam Englebardt - Executive Producer, Ryan R. Johnson - Executive Producer, Gary Rubin - Executive Producer, Stephen Hays - Executive Producer, Laura Irvine - Location Manager, Michael O. Gallant - Line Producer, Bobby Johnston - Composer (Music Score), Alan Muraoka - Production Designer, Denis Maloney - Cinematographer, Stuart Gordon - Producer, Chris Hanley - Producer, Mary McCann - Producer, Duffy Hecht - Producer, Roger E. Kass - Producer, Kevin Ragsdale - Producer, Molly Hassell - Producer, Zsolt Magyar - Sound/Sound Designer, Hiro Koda - Stunts Coordinator, Michael O. Gallant - Unit Production Manager, David Mamet - Screenwriter, Roberto Schein - Second Unit Director Of Photography, Bill Mitchell - Additional Cinematography, Rich Ragsdale - Additional Music, Roberto Schein - Gaffer, Bobby Johnston - Musical Performer, Spiralmouth - Musical Performer, Rebecca Kneubuhl - Musical Performer, Michael Miller - Production Coordinator, Christopher H. Warner - Production Coordinator, Dan Voltz - Production Supervisor, Peter Caristedt - Re-Recording Mixer, Bruce Resnik - Script Supervisor, Kathleen Spinelli - Second Assistant Director, Michael McDonald - Supervising Sound Editor, Rocky Faulkner - Key Make-up, Minnie Duerr - Production Accountant, Kris Fuller - Set Decorator, Roger Mende - Co-Executive Producer, David Mamet - Play Author, Metropolis Motion - Title Design, Picture Services - Title Design, Bob Hummel - Properties Maker
The film received mixed to favorable reviews from critics. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 45% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 69 reviews.[1]Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 61 out of 100, based on 21 reviews.[2]
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film one star out of five and called it a "truly awful movie, one of the very worst US pictures to be released [in the UK] in years." Bradshaw said screenwriter Mamet "lets rip with deafening flatulent macho nonsense" and said "He reaches a level of self-parody so extreme his trademark dialogue becomes almost literally meaningless." Bradshaw said the cameos by Mena Suvari and Denise Richards are "insulting and cursorily written" and called the ending of the film "outrageously contrived."[3]
The New York Times film critic Stephen Holden said William H. Macy "is perfectly cast", calling him "a master at playing sticks of human dynamite in mild-mannered camouflage" and that he gives the "nerviest screen performance of his career." Holden said the film is a faithful adaptation of the one-act play from 1982, saying "Its taunting insistence that everyone is racist, voiced in abrasive, staccato Mamet-speak, leaves you feeling battered and vaguely guilty." Holden wrote, "As in much of Mr. Mamet's work, there is a quality of adolescent nose-thumbing, as though it all might be a cruel practical joke designed solely to make us squirm." Holden said viewers may love or hate the film but that it was certainly unforgettable.[4]
