neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Head Of State
	Chris Rock Chris Rock, Bernie Mac, Dylan Baker, Nick Searcy, Lynn Whitfield, Robin Givens, Tamala Jones, James Rebhorn, Stephanie March, Nate Dogg 2003		Since "Head of State" was co-written by, directed by and starring Chris Rock, there's only one person to blame for it: incisive, socio-political stand-up comedian Chris Rock. He's a major talent, but the film's tone is haphazard, moving from clever observational humor to farcical surrealism to tired racial stereotyping to pointless slapstick. Mays Gilliam (Rock), a hardworking, hard-luck African-American alderman from Washington, D.C., is saddled with debts and a foul-tempered girlfriend (Robin Givens). He's devoted to his constituents, though, even playing hero when one of them is endangered. His bravery gets the attention of political insiders after their presidential and vice presidential candidates die in a freak accident. The election is sure to be lost, so — fantasy time! — the party chooses Mays to run as a sop to minority voters. Only Mays is no one's puppet. He speaks his mind, tabs his brutish brother (Bernie Mac) as his running mate, and wins hearts. When Rock goes into one of his cut-to-the-bone rants about America, "Head of State" satisfies. To get to them, you have to endure banal gibes and a flimsy love affair between Mays and a gas-mart cashier.