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MOVIES / ON DVD / SUNSHINE STATE
Sunshine State

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Sunshine State (2002)

81%
79%
69%
N/A
N/A
N/A
81 %
Reviews Counted: 105 Fresh: 85  Rotten:20 Average Rating: 7/10
 
Consensus: Wonderfully acted, but the story and pacing can use a little work.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 2 hrs 21 mins

Theatrical Release: Jun 21, 2002 Limited

Box Office: $2,836,157

Synopsis: Welcome to Delorna Beach and the 2nd Annual Buccaneer Days! Take a trip! Take a drive! See Florida Today! Oceanfront motels. T-shirt shops. Golf courses. Palm trees. Sandy beaches. Condominiums. Man-eating alligators. Indians, pirates, Spanish gold, sea Island plantations.... Welcome to Delorna Beach and the 2nd Annual Buccaneer Days! Take a trip! Take a drive! See Florida Today!

Oceanfront motels. T-shirt shops. Golf courses. Palm trees. Sandy beaches. Condominiums. Man-eating alligators. Indians, pirates, Spanish gold, sea Island plantations. "People don't realize how hard it is to invent a tradition." - Francince Pinckney

Change is coming to Delrona Beach, Florida, assaults on every front. Here's Marly (Edie Falco) running her father's motel and hating every minute of it. Lester and Greg (Miguel Ferrer and Perry Lang) will stop at nothing to buy the motel, and Dad (Ralph Waite) will never sell. Mom (Jane Alexander) is living in her own dream world down at the community theater and off at the Audubon meetings, saving what's left of the natural habitat.

Marly's wasting away in Margaritaville, dodging her ex-husband (Richard Edson), losing her golf pro (Marc Blucas) and tempted by the new guy in town (Timothy Hutton) even though he is definitely working for the other side.

Here's Desiree (Angela Bassett) back for her first real visit home since she left under a cloud 25 years ago. She doesn't trust her mother Eunice (Mary Alice) and won't be drawn into staying in the black enclave of Lincoln Beach, even though family friend Dr Lloyd (Bill Cobbs) works her pretty hard.

Dr. Lloyd is up against it, fighting off the Plantation in the person of promoter Northrup (Sam McMurray) whose battles with the black community go way back. Trophy husband Dr. Reginald Perry (James McDaniel) does his best to fit in, but he's worried about the old boyfriend Flash Phillips (Tom Wright), and nobody's comfortable with the boy Eunice has taken in, young arsonist Terrell (Alex Lewis)

Chamber of Commerce stalwart Francine Pinckney (Mary Steenburgen) keeps a smile on her face and pom poms high, championing Buccaneer Days through its course. She's too busy to see much of banker husband Earl (Gordon Clapp) whose gambling debts are giving him problems of his own.

Real people. Real places. Welcome to Florida. -- © Sony Pictures Classics [More]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Edie Falco, Angela Bassett, Jane Alexander, Ralph Waite, James McDaniel

Director: John Sayles
Screenwriter: John Sayles
Producer: Maggie Renzi
Composer: Mason Daring

DVD Info

Release:

Nov 19, 2002

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Widescreen

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.0 - English
  • Additional Release MateriaL
  • Audio Commentary - 1. John Sayles - Director
  • Trailers

Interactive Features:

  • Interactive Menus
  • Scene Selection

Buy It On DVD

Reviews

 
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Ratings Image
3/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
A-

Sayles' writing is so good, and so convincing, he makes the experience more like reading a complex and well-researched novel than watching a movie.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/04
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
Ratings Image
3.5/4

Click to read review

Full Review | comment Comment
01/12/04
Michael Dequina
Mr. Brown's Movies
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
12/15/03
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]
Ratings Image
N/A

Sunshine State certainly ranks as one of the director's richest, most satisfying films.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/28/03
Brett Buckalew
FilmStew.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
05/13/03
Wilson Morales
BlackFilm.com
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3/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
02/02/03
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
76/100

Could have been much more than good, if only it didn’t seem so unfocused, and so many characters didn’t seem insufficiently explored.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/30/03
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide
Ratings Image
C+

Not all of the stories work and the ones that do are thin and scattered, but the film works well enough to make it worth watching.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/09/03
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
Ratings Image
3/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
12/31/02
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/4

John Sayles has crafted a bleak, not-so-happy view of what many parts of the sunshine state are really like as developers snap up and exploit what hasn't already been turned into a theme park, resort, or retirement community.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/13/02
Kevin A. Ranson
MovieCrypt.com
Ratings Image
4/5

The shrillness of [Sayles's] more political films is gone, leaving a clear set of opinions but a more even-handed feel.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/01/02
Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
Goatdog's Movies
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
11/06/02
Jeff Strickler
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
10/21/02
Jean Lowerison
San Diego Metropolitan
Ratings Image
2.5/4

...as good as all the performances are, they just can't make up for the fact that it's just too darn long.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/20/02
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Ratings Image
3/4

The dialogue is sharp and insightful, the cast is superb, the performances are rock-solid, the story is provocative and multilayered.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/15/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer
Ratings Image
N/A

Sunshine State lacks the kind of dynamic that Limbo offers, and in some ways is a rather indulgent piece.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/05/02
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Ratings Image
B+

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Full Review | comment Comment
09/18/02
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com
Ratings Image
3/4

...Sayles continuously wrings stirring drama from everyday life.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/12/02
Josh Larsen
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL)
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Related Forums

REEL_REVIEWER
SUNSHINE STATE - easily the best John Sayles movie EVER!
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