4/11/2003
Head of State stars Chris Rock as Mays Gilliam, Bernie Mac as Mitch Gilliam, Dylan Baker as Martin Geller, Nick Searcy as V P Brian Lewis, Lynn Whitfield as Debra Lassiter, Robin Givens as Kim, Tamala Jones as Lisa Clark, James Rebhorn as Senator Bill Arnot, Keith David as Bernard Cooper, Tracy Morgan as Meat man, Stephanie March as Nikki, Robert Stanton as Advisor, Jude Ciccolella as Mr. Earl, Nate Dogg as Nate Dogg, and Angie Mattson as Nate's Girl.
Head of State is a film written, directed, produced, and starring Chris Rock. The film is an attempt to show how the political process exploits people to reach an end. Wait, you say, "I thought this was a comedy?" Yes, so did I. There are some funny moments, but they are far and few between. What we are left with is a political version of similar flops by Steve Martin, like The lonely Guy. This film becomes a standard poor soul plot with triumph at the end. I love Chris Rock's humor and stand-up. He is one of the great comedians today, but this film is lacking the substance that makes laughter with tears in our eyes.
Well, here's the plot. Mays Gilliam an alderman in the 9th ward of Washington, D.C., is removed from his office because he truly cares about his neighborhood and the people in it. He is against the removal of bus service to his part of town which is a what the mayor wants, so out he goes. Meanwhile, he saves a woman and her cat from a building that is about to be demolished with explosives. This makes him a story on the news. Meanwhile back at political party headquarters, the plotters and planners must find a replacement to run against the opposition candidate as their candidate was killed in an airplane accident.
The political machine decides to run a candidate that will fail, but grease the skids for the election in four years for Senator Bill Arnot (the bad guy). Of course he doesn't think Mays Gilliam has a chance to even come close in the election. But, as with all poor soul stories, there is triumph at the end.
I give it 2 out of 5 earrings: 