The Hottest State (2007)

Truly the worst movie I've ever seen in a theater

Brilliant and touching

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

William Harding (Mark Webber) is a 20 year old struggling actor in NYC from Texas. He doesn't really know his dad Vincent (Ethan Hawke) after he left with his mother at 8. Sarah (Catalina Sandino Moreno) wants to be a singer. They hit it off right away. Samantha (Michelle Williams) is his ex who he is still hanging with. He has issues. Her mother (Sonia Braga) doesn't approve of her singing and complains a lot. His mother Jesse (Laura Linney) is also quite a piece of work.It's an indie from Ethan Hawke. It's a fairly bland affair. The lead Webber doesn't have the best charisma. His character is emotionally damaged. Moreno has a sweet presence but she struggles to do more. They both have infuriating moments that makes it hard to invest in their relationship. There is a musical element but there isn't anything catchy. There's no magic in that. It's an angsty indie without the needed likability. The dialog is very clunky with Hawke trying too hard. Being an Ethan Hawke film, there are a lot of great actors. I guess people just want to hang out with him.

Fabulous movie. The dichotomy of the two characters' personalities is simply amazing. Throughout every emotion, scene, and heartache, you feel what the characters are feeling, want what they want, see what they see. The buildup to the climax of their love in Mexico is astounding and perfectly written. This is easily a cult classic, for any indie film lover. The week in Mexico just makes you want to fall in love if only for a week. I love the innocence, yet ambiguity of Sarah's character. Is she real or not?? The lead actor are PERFECT for their respective roles. This film has amazing street credibility. The only downside to this movie is that the role of Williams parents is minimalist, confusing, and rather pointless. This storyline just did not amalgamate well with the film.

I really didn't want to like this movie. I'll be honest. The first twenty minutes, I was more interested in my plate of Chinese food than the movie itself. I thought the script was poorly made, and it was clearly very low budget. But not being one to prejudge, I saw it through. And I'm glad I did. Perhaps it doesn't have the 'Hollywood' feel we're all accustomed to, but maybe that's what made this movie the little gem it is. The emotions and sentiments behind and surrounding this movie were so raw and genuine, it touched you in ways superficial blockbusters don't. It's a story of heartbreak, and of two broken people who need each other even though they are ultimately bad for each other. It's a tragically romantic movie, which was constructed very well through the use of good music and excellent filming. And while I think it had the potential to be even better than it already was, by means of stronger dialogue- as is it, it's very much worth your time.

I've liked Hawke as an actor but didn't go into this film with high expectations. I was surprised at how competently this was made. While it covers fairly safe territory - a romantic drama - it does it with nice visuals and some originality. The protagonist William (Mark Webber) is a bit of a slacker, yet he was introspective enough to try to resolve some of his own issues when his lover Sarah (Catalina Sandino Moreno) splits and leaves him broken-hearted. The fact that this was tackled from the male perspective, and grappled with some psychological insight gave the film some gravitas. Mind you, how deeply a twenty-one year old can delve into his psyche is another thing.I found the film quite enjoyable, more than superficial, but still largely in the "middle-of-the-road" category - not that that's a bad thing. The cinematography was great, and there were nice camera angles. The music was nice but sometimes a little intrusive. While it's the type of film that's likely to do well at Sundance (maybe it has, I don't know), it's a lot better than the quirky comedies like Little Miss Sunshine et al. This film could do well on general release and was an OK film to add some variation to my MIFF viewings, but nothing to rave about. A good effort by Hawke (who is also a guest speaker at the festival).