Sunshine State | | Cast : | Angela Bassett, Edie Falco | | Director : | John Sayles | | Studio : | Columbia Tristar Hom | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | January 01, 2002 | | DVD Released Date : | November 19, 2002 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 08, 2005 | | Summary | Intelligent Character-Based Story | Content
 | This film depicts a small Florida town, Delrona Beach, that's being targeted for a new resort by land developers. The story revolves around a cast of characters and how their lives will potentially be changed, for better or worse, by the transformation of their hometown. One of the major characters is Marly (Edie Falco), a woman who longs to free herself from the obligations imposed by her father while finding love and life somewhere new. Another is Desiree (Angela Bassett), who has returned to confront her painful past and try to create a new and more understanding relationship with her mother. Many other stories also unfold, with charm and humor, as the movie winds towards a resolution.
Some people may find this film rather slow. Bu personally I loved its deep and funny exploration of its many eccentric charcters. Also the movie's gentle pace made it seem more realistic and true to life than the many mindless action flicks that we are constantly exposed to. Great movie! |
| Rating | | | Date | February 10, 2004 | | Summary | John Sayles At His Best | Content
| No film director has earned more the right to make a movie about not selling out than has John Sayles. Over the years he has consistently directed fine independent movies. I thus expected much from this movie and was not disappointed. The out-of-state developers have descended on Delrona Beach and Lincon Beach, Florida. They want to bring progress in the form of "plantations," planned resorts, golf courses, etc. If you are interested in how timely this subject is, spend a day driving down A-1A in Florida. Then there's Disney World in the middle of the state. You'll be interested to see just who the bad guys are and what color some of them are. The ensemble cast is outstanding, from Angela Bassett-- when she's on the screen, all eyes are on her-- to Edie Falco, Timothy Hutton, Mary Steenburgen--"it's so difficult to create a tradition"--to Jane Alexander and Gordon Clapp. There is a delicious scene where Alexander outsmarts a developer who is trying to rook her out of her property. She says something to the effect that she's good at finance since she has run a nonprofit theatre group for 25 years. A word about Falco: you totally forget that she is a big part of "The Sopranos." It's good to know that there is life for her outside that show. She's completely believable as the tired manager of her father's restaurant and motel. Finally, it's worth what you paid to rent or buy this video to hear the young woman sing "The Last Mile of the Way." |
| Rating | | | Date | October 18, 2003 | | Summary | BRIGHT AS DAY | Content
| Land developers preying on naive and worldly-wise landowners in Florida isn't the most original idea, indeed it sounds dated, but this ensemble comedy-drama from Writer-Director John Sayles is as engaging as a warm ocean breeze on your favorite Floridian beach. All the interlocking stories of the potentially wealthy residents are entertaining and amusing but the film really belongs to Angela Bassett and James McDaniel as a woman returning to her home town with her husband, half-heartedly willing to confront unresolved family affairs and relationships. They provide a strong backbone to this gentle and funny film. |
| Rating | | | Date | September 10, 2003 | | Summary | Land for Sayles | Content
| John Sayles returns to his Altmanesque "Lone Star" formula, with mixed results. Instead of a small town in Texas, a sleepy little resort community in Florida is put under the microscope. Once again, Sayles juggles about a half-dozen subplots that eventually tie together, although in a somewhat less compelling fashion than his Texas tale. The now-familiar Sayles themes of family ties, bittersweet love stories, culture clash and community traditions are trotted out and examined. The film opens strong, with greedy land developers descending on quirky small-town landowners, initially leading the viewer to think they are headed for a picaresque Carl Hiaasen-flavored social satire. Instead, we are given a deliberately paced, almost Mike Leigh ("Secrets and Lies")-style glimpse into the lives of several families. The various little epiphanies that result are, at best, only a little interesting. Sayles is an actor's director, and while that usually guarantees good performances (which this film does have), it doesn't necessarily guarantee a riveting story. In fact, there are so many good actors in the huge cast (Edie Falco, Tim Hutton, Angela Bassett, Ralph Waite, Jane Alexander, Mary Steenburgen, etc.) that it's almost distracting, since no one stays on screen for very long at any given time. Worth a look, and more intelligent than 95% of the current Hollywood offal, but not quite gripping enough to compare to Sayles' best work. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 24, 2003 | | Summary | Quite possibly my new favorite movie | Content
| There are so many elements going on in this movie, it's hard to focus on which ones stand out the most. First and foremost, as a Florida resident for 25 years, he nails the sleepy ocean-front atmosphere. The characters in relation to the land, their struggles with local government and big-time developers are utterly believable and accurately portrayed. The sense of community is delivered admirably with looks into the lives of a wide-range of citizens. The characters are (for the most part) subtly woven together, no matter how disparate they initially appear. Marly, portrayed by Edie Falco, is my favorite. She's a not-quite-bitter-divorcee who has taken over the family's restaraunt/hotel business. A former Wikki Wachi (sp?) mermaid, this is *not* what she wants to do with her life. But because nothing better has come along, she stays and keeps her father happy. Rather than one main plot, there are several sub-plots throughout the film. Desiree (Angela Bassett) reconciling herself with her mother and her past. Marly deciding what she wants and what she doesn't want. Exley (sp?) Plantation trying to buy out the town. Dr. Lloyd trying desperately to save the town. Mrs. Stokes wanting to save Terrell, or, at the least, redeem him. Jack just doing his job. Francine running the annual Buckaneer Day. Delia Temple making the best of her situation. Earl trying to kill himself. And the Florida Flash, whom no one really knows what it is he's doing back in town. All of this tied up neatly with four golfers, musing on the nature of the land. It's a glorious movie. I've watched it four times already, and plan to watch it many more. |
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