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Sunshine State
Sunshine State
Actors: Angela Bassett, Edie Falco, Jane Alexander, Alan King
Director: John Sayles
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Mystery & Suspense
PG-13     2002     2hr 21min

From acclaimed writer/director John Sayles (Lone Star, Passion Fish) comes an unforgettable portrait of a richly diverse Florida town threatened by real estate developers. Edie Falco, Angela Bassett and Timothy Hutton lead...  more »

     

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Movie Details

Actors: Angela Bassett, Edie Falco, Jane Alexander, Alan King
Director: John Sayles
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Sub-Genres: Comedy, Family Life, Mystery & Suspense
Studio: Sony Pictures
Format: DVD - Color,Widescreen,Anamorphic - Closed-captioned
DVD Release Date: 11/19/2002
Original Release Date: 01/01/2002
Theatrical Release Date: 01/01/2002
Release Year: 2002
Run Time: 2hr 21min
Screens: Color,Widescreen,Anamorphic
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 2
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Languages: English
Subtitles: English, French

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Member Movie Reviews

Sharon F. (Shar) from AVON PARK, FL
Reviewed on 3/10/2022...
I enjoyed this movie because I live in South Florida and see this going on all the time.

Movie Reviews

Another wonderful Sayles creation
Charlotte Vale-Allen | CT USA | 07/15/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Author/screenwriter/director/editor--John Sayles is unique in the film industry. After a slew of odd jobs, he became a novelist, then a screenwriter and, ultimately, the winner of a MacArthur "genius" grant to finance his own films. His Return of the Secaucus Seven was the beginning of a series of highly individual films that include Brother From Another Planet, the wonderful Eight Men Out, Lone Star and now this bittersweet film about Florida. The cast--particularly Edie Falco and Angela Bassett, who both give shining performances--is wonderful, with a winning turn by Ralph Waite (remember The Waltons?) as Falco's blind father.This is a film about history, about pride, about mother-daughter turmoil, about land development (and greedy, conniving developers) about the human condition. It is funny and touching, irreverent and fundamentally true; it is also well-conceived and sometimes hilarious. Mary Steenburgen (with one of those amazing facelifts that leaves her expressionless) nevertheless is great as what amounts to a middle-aged cheerleader, trying to pump civic pride into a place that has precious little of it. There are a number of small, golden moments: a scene between Waite and young Alex Lewis as Terrell is understated and lovely.A fine, fine film with a splendid cast, and some messages that are delivered without a single heavy-handed moment.Don't miss this one!"
Sayles produces another winner
Dale Rhines | Alexandria, VA United States | 11/24/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)

"John Sayles, who wrote, directed, and edited Sunshine State, is one of the finest directors working today. He is able to take seemingly unrelated stories and create a wonderful film. His work, including Limbo, Eight Men Out, Lone Star, and Matewan are all movies that make you think. I would have liked more extras on this DVD, but Sayles commentary is interesting and does provide some insight into the movie making process. The movie, about developers moving into a little town in Florida and the effect on the town, looks at class and race differences and provides a different look at Florida, much like Limbo did for Alaska. The cast is really good, led by Edie Falco, who provides a Oscar worthy performance as a "motelier" who wants more out of life but doesn't seem to want it enough to leave, and by Angela Bassett, who did leave and maybe is wondering what she got of life by leaving. Bill Cobbs and TYimothy Hutton also provide solid performances in this movie. As I indictaed, the lack of extras is disappointing, but the movie itself is a gem. John Sayles, whose body of work stands with any director working today, has produced another film that will leave you thinking about it long after you view it."
All You Ever Wanted to Know About Florida...
Linda McDonnell | Brooklyn, U.S.A | 08/10/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)

"...or so it seems. "Sunshine State" concerns itself with the natives of two Florida beach communities, one white and the other black, who find themselves being wooed by luxury condo developers. Some are for it, and some are less so. While all the haggling is going on, we get to see the minidramas in various people's lives.For instance, on the white beach, there's a young woman bored out of her mind by running her blind father's motel ( a different take on the Norman Bates charatcter if you will). Dad is a curmudgeonly old guy, while mom Jane Alexander is the local drama teacher queen who prefers to forget that the motel is somehow connected to her family. Daughter is starting up a romance with Timothy Hutton, who is designing the landscaping for that new community. He's a decent enough fellow, apparantly.On the black beach, there's tension between an older woman and her daughter, who has just returned after an absence of many years, evidently to introduce mom to her new doctor husband. This daughter was once a drama student of Jane Alexander's, so there's a bit of overlap in the two communities. Daughter is none too happy to see that her old high school boyfriend has resurfaced, especially since he fathered the child she had to leave town to have.From time to time, we also see Alan King and his golfer friends who just comment on the need to bring nature under the control of man, "Nature is overrated", King says flatly at one point, while teeing off. Seems some of the other reviewers found "Sunshine State" overly long or soap opera-ish. I didn't find it either thing. I thought the story lines were all interesting enough, and that it was just long enough. Perhaps it's not the best movie I've seen this year, but I'm not sorry I saw it or anything."