Mark Webber and Catalina Sandino Moreno in "The Hottest State"
(Credit: Thinkfilm)
- Running time:
- 116 minutes
- Rated:
- R
- Cast:
- Mark Webber -
- Catalina Sandino Moreno -
- Ethan Hawke -
- Vince
- Laura Linney -
- Director:
- Ethan Hawke
- Genre:
- Drama, Romance
- Movie Trailer:
- View Trailer
- Overall User Rating:
-
(0 ratings)
Big question: Can Ethan Hawke improve upon the quick disappearing act of his first film, "Chelsea Walls," with a feature adaptation of his own critically-panned novel?
Skip it: The movie certainly feels authentic, many just-turned-20 relationships probably are this obnoxious, but that doesn't make it any easier to watch on screen. Everything that comes out of William's mouth is nothing less than painful. It’s not until he says "I don't even like myself," that he starts making any kind of sense. Youthful naivete is one thing, but what's the excuse when it's the product of a 36-year-old filmmaker?
Catch it: If you’re a “Before Sunset”/“Before Sunrise” junkie eager to see how Hawke fares at a romantic two-hander (or how his work compares to “Before” co-star Julie Delpy’s “2 Days in Paris”).
Bottom line: What's apparently deeply personal for Hawke winds up deeply torturous for the audience.
Bonus: Skip the movie, but check out the soundtrack. Singer/songwriter Jesse Harris contributes the evocative score and songs, performing some himself while leaving others to the likes of Norah Jones, Bright Eyes, M. Ward, Cat Power, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Feist.
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