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Sunshine State Reviews

2002

60
from 1305 members

SUNSHINE STATE, directed and written by John Sayles, takes a close-up and occasionally comic look at the fading community of Delrona Beach, Florida. A dozen local personalities are introduced, each with their own unique challenges. The town's dilapidated houses, its stale Buccaneer Days Festival, its sluggish economy, and the .. Read more

Starring	Angela Bassett, Timothy Hutton, Edie Falco, Mary Steenburgen
Director	John Sayles
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of Sunshine State
View all critics' reviews (6)
- A sprawling account of some unsatisfactory lives, of dreams gone wrong and futures to be avoided, that also manages to reflect the problems and momentary pleasures of a larger society.
- 32098
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:42
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Sunshine State
View all members' reviews (21)
- - 5
  - 1
  Subtle treatment of property sharks
  
  Big town developers invade a backwater Florida beachside community in the hope of transforming the seafront into a profitable investment.
  
  Great ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 305192
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Neil1963
  - Oxon
  - 18 Jun 2004 at 13:30
Most recent members' reviews of Sunshine State
View all members' reviews (21)
- - 0
  - 0
  An egalitarian director
  
  I enjoyed this crowded film, Sayles known for not promoting one protagonist over the other: they are all heroes and the events that they confront could be in ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 984567
- - a customer
  - 20 Apr 2011 at 15:44
- - 0
  - 0
  Feel Good factor
  
  This film was lovely to watch. It had that feel good factor. Angela Bassett was great in it and the rest of the cast made it very watchable as well. I ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 826613
- - dyannie
  - 8 reviews
  - Manchester
  - 01 Nov 2009 at 09:38
- - 0
  - 0
  **
  
  As much as I'm a big fan of John Sayles, especially his early work (Matewan, The Secausas 7, and Lone Star), i have to admit this movie's a yawn. I ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 766775
- - gsskimsing
  - 14 reviews
  - Edinburgh
  - 05 Jun 2009 at 16:55
- - 0
  - 0
  Not much to it
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Follows the long time residents of a Florida beach front, which is prey to nefarious propery developers. Preachy at times, over talkative and pretentious (it ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 591566
- - a customer
  - London
  - 02 Jul 2008 at 14:10
- - 0
  - 0
  Skegness with sunshine and swamps
  
  I really love down-at-heel seaside towns so I loved the setting for this film and the atmosphere that it so brilliantly captured. The difference between our ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 445851
- - whatsinaname
  - 7 reviews
  - Brighton, England
  - 01 Jun 2007 at 18:59
- - 1
  - 0
  This is the first time...
  
  This is the first time I've watched a film from LOVEFILM that I've seen before.
  
  I love run-down dead-at-heel seaside resorts and this film ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 445741
- - whatsinaname
  - 7 reviews
  - Brighton, England
  - 01 Jun 2007 at 12:36
- - 0
  - 0
  The greatest American director
  
  John Sayles is perhaps cinema's best kept secret. Those in the know await each new offering from him with impatience and expectancy, but, perhaps because ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 443111
- - a customer
  - London, England
  - 24 May 2007 at 11:10
- - 0
  - 0
  Excellent
  
  I loved this film - and wasn't expecting to, judging from some of the reviews I read prior to ordering it.
  
  Superbly shot and conceived, excellent... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 361180
- - wordweaver
  - Surrey
  - 08 Mar 2006 at 13:12
- - 0
  - 0
  Brilliant!
  
  John Sayles, who wrote and directed, has produced a wonderful film. the screenplay is so thought provoking and charming. the acting is exellent throughout. the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 213543
- - Paul Knifton
  - Ross, England
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 18:46
- - 0
  - 0
  Disappointing
  
  Sorry but we gave up part way through - very hyped but little substance and felt like it was going nowhere.
  
  Report this review
- 172866
- - a customer
  - Wirral
  - 11 Nov 2005 at 16:56
View all members' reviews (21)

- - 5
  - 1
  Subtle treatment of property sharks
  
  Big town developers invade a backwater Florida beachside community in the hope of transforming the seafront into a profitable investment.
  
  Great ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 305192
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Neil1963
  - Oxon
  - 18 Jun 2004 at 13:30
- - 3
  - 0
  Great acting, reallistic and often difficult subject matter
  
  John Sayles, a director known for his unflinching portraits of modern American life, gives us a beautifully acted ensemble piece here about the 'other' ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 14278
- - a customer
  - London, England
  - 11 Aug 2004 at 05:30
- - 1
  - 0
  As a film it flows, I ...
  
  As a film it flows, I think the director wanted to make a beautiful movie which they achieved but it was lacking in depth. maybe it requires to be watched more ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 27270
- - Bunmio#1
  - LONDON
  - 28 Jan 2004 at 12:21
- - 1
  - 0
  Social life in Florida
  
  Ensemble piece with multiple themes and plot strands: the search for ones place in history, society and family roots; progress and the environment.
  
  ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 313327
- - Geepee
  - Cornwall
  - 07 Nov 2004 at 00:28
- - 1
  - 0
  This is the first time...
  
  This is the first time I've watched a film from LOVEFILM that I've seen before.
  
  I love run-down dead-at-heel seaside resorts and this film ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 445741
- - whatsinaname
  - 7 reviews
  - Brighton, England
  - 01 Jun 2007 at 12:36
- - 1
  - 1
  Sunshine Stasis
  
  Edie Falco is far more gentle and laid-back than in her ?Sopranos? persona; what a great actress. And did you notice that Angela Bassett?s mum in this film, was... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 53343
- - Bobnessuk
  - 169 reviews
  - LONDON
  - 15 Nov 2004 at 12:36
- - 0
  - 0
  Disappointing
  
  Sorry but we gave up part way through - very hyped but little substance and felt like it was going nowhere.
  
  Report this review
- 172866
- - a customer
  - Wirral
  - 11 Nov 2005 at 16:56
- - 0
  - 0
  Brilliant!
  
  John Sayles, who wrote and directed, has produced a wonderful film. the screenplay is so thought provoking and charming. the acting is exellent throughout. the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 213543
- - Paul Knifton
  - Ross, England
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 18:46
- - 0
  - 0
  Very Good movie!
  
  John Sayles is true to form with an unassuming but excellent ensemble movie.
  
  This captures some of the political and personal complexities in a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 313019
- - rnest2002
  - 16 reviews
  - Exeter, UK
  - 03 Nov 2004 at 12:12
- - 0
  - 0
  Property and discovery drama in Florida
  
  The film is enjoyable despite having a feeling of being made by someone without a great deal of conviction as to how to direct.
  
  The dialogue is ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 318486
- - ThirteenFingerFX
  - Greater London
  - 11 Jan 2005 at 11:43

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Critics' reviews
- A sprawling account of some unsatisfactory lives, of dreams gone wrong and futures to be avoided, that also manages to reflect the problems and momentary pleasures of a larger society.
- 32098
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:42
- "...Sayles has not tilted toward obvious political or social commentary, buts sees each character lovingly, as an individual whose present needs are more important than ideology..."
- 10986
- - Chicago Sun
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...SUNSHINE STATE has several potent performances in it....This remains a film about something, one that attempts and often achieves a level of connection and concern..."
- 10987
- - Los Angeles Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...A spacious American epic....It creates a cinematic mosaic of American lives unprecedented in its range, balance, subtlety and even-handedness..."
- 10989
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...Edie Falco sparks the film....You can feel the heat that ignites this gripping tale, and the humor and humanity that root it in feeling..."
- 10990
- - Rolling Stone
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- Like City of Hope and the early scenes in Limbo, this is one of Sayles' multi-character social tapestries investigating... read more on Time Out
- 45386
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:15

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Sunshine State
  
  SUNSHINE STATE, directed and written by John Sayles, takes a close-up and occasionally comic look at the fading community of Delrona Beach, Florida. A dozen local personalities are introduced, each with their own unique challenges. The town's dilapidated houses, its stale Buccaneer Days Festival, ...