I live in the town of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island which is located in Northeastern Florida. This was also the filming location and subject of the fictional "Plantation Island" in the recent John Sayles film Sunshine State. So, the primary reason I even entered the theater to see this movie was to get a glimpse of familiar buildings and to see how my little town was portrayed on the big screen.
During the course of the movie I must have checked my digital watch no less than five times, not a good sign. At about two and a half hours, this movie seems to go on (and go nowhere) forever!
Edie Falco, best known as the mother on the popular HBO series The Sopranos, plays Marly the apathetic motel operator who wishes for a better life. Despite her sporadic Southern accent, Falco delivers a decent performance. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Angela Bassett who moves through the movie delivering her lines like a robot.
The plot is essentially a web of about 10 semi-connected characters bouncing around with their own personal agendas. In the somewhat predictable final chapter of this movie, only about half of the sub-plots are even resolved. The remaining plotlines are simply left dangling without needed closure, perhaps the filmmakers ran out of money and had to cease shooting. That theory could also be supported by what seemed like some of the worst editing and overall film quality that I've seen in quite some time.
In short, Sunshine State is a dull, dry, low-budget film with poorly written dialogue and weak acting. I would suggest that anyone looking for something interesting to watch should avoid this movie at all costs.
During the course of the movie I must have checked my digital watch no less than five times, not a good sign. At about two and a half hours, this movie seems to go on (and go nowhere) forever!
Edie Falco, best known as the mother on the popular HBO series The Sopranos, plays Marly the apathetic motel operator who wishes for a better life. Despite her sporadic Southern accent, Falco delivers a decent performance. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Angela Bassett who moves through the movie delivering her lines like a robot.
The plot is essentially a web of about 10 semi-connected characters bouncing around with their own personal agendas. In the somewhat predictable final chapter of this movie, only about half of the sub-plots are even resolved. The remaining plotlines are simply left dangling without needed closure, perhaps the filmmakers ran out of money and had to cease shooting. That theory could also be supported by what seemed like some of the worst editing and overall film quality that I've seen in quite some time.
In short, Sunshine State is a dull, dry, low-budget film with poorly written dialogue and weak acting. I would suggest that anyone looking for something interesting to watch should avoid this movie at all costs.