Head Of State (2003, C. Rock)

From AllMovieGuide.Com:

Plot Synopsis by Mark Deming
Can a high-attitude African-American politician who says what he thinks stand a chance in a presidential campaign? Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) is a straight-talking alderman representing a inner-city neighborhood in Washington, D.C. In the midst of a hard-fought race for the White House, the Democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidates are killed in an airline crash, and with little time to prepare a new campaign, the Republican candidate, Vice President Brian Lewis (Nick Searcy), seems all but guaranteed to win. With practically nothing to loose, party head Martin Geller (Dylan Baker) approaches Gilliam and asks him to stand as the Democrat's presidential candidate. While Gilliam is dubious at first, before long his streetwise style and willingness to face the issues head-on earns him surprising figures in the polls, especially after he persuades his short-fused older brother, Mitch Gilliam (Bernie Mac), to join the ticket as vice presidential candidate -- a big jump for a bail bondsman. Gilliam's love life also becomes more complicated as his ex-girlfriend Kim (Robin Givens) decides she wants him back now that he has a shot at the White House, even though Gilliam only has eyes for Lisa (Tamala Jones). Head of State marked the directorial debut for comic and actor Chris Rock, who also co-wrote and co-produced the film.

With Rock's up and down film career, I hoped that his directorial debut would play to his strengths. His politcal/topical humor is amongst his strongest in his stand-up routines and "Head Of State"'s subject matter seemed the perfect vehicle. I wonder went wrong.

It's not to say that the film is bad or unfunny. Because its watchable and has very funny jokes and performances. I was expecting a different plot to the movie (my own fault) and it that lies some of my disapointment. I thought the movie would be about Rock being an actual black president and running things. The film is actually about him running forpresident. Rock says in the commentary that he wanted the film to have a real "campy feel" like Putney Swope, but is neither as biting or as surreal as Downey Sr.'s film. Rock's trademark humor may have been tampered by the studio a little bit (his 2007 interview with Elvis Mitchell alluded to a bit of that), but I do not know for sure.

His running for president plot is where the movie misfires. The opposing candidate is not very threatening. Especially throughout the begining of the race as he refuses to debate Gilliam (Rock). Gilliam and Mitch, his vice-presidential candidate, resort to ambushing Lewis with the press in tow, in order to get him to debate. You would think a seasoned politician (a Vice President!) would relish the oppurtunity to debate an inexperienced alderman. Whatever, plot mechanics...



What was fun about watching this film, was seeing how things Rock and co. wrote about that have seemed to pop up in the current political election. The main argument that the opposing Lewis' campaign has against Gilliam is that he's "inexperienced". Magazine covers show his face with the questions: Are We Ready? Is He Ready? These would be fairly obvious similarities to what Barack Obama has been facing, given the subject matter of the movie, but I was suprised to see a lot more similarities. Gilliam, as an alderman, was dealing with a lot of inner city and lower income people and families. Obama started out doing the same. Lewis is a war hero, as is John McCain. Gilliam's "That Ain't Right" seems to be a more outraged cattle call version of Obama's "Yes We Can!"

But most of all, Rock's message of the film, is being practiced by Obama currently. With "Head Of State", I believe that Rock is trying to say that the people of American wants a president that is going to talk to them like grown-ups and actually listen to what the people have to say. Once Gilliam starts using "his own voice" in his speeches, his approval goes through the roof. Obama's recent speech on race was a real-life example of this, and proves that we have a candidate that shares Rock's hope. That we can have a president talk to us about very sensitive issues, without talking down to us, but inspiring people with the words to actually try to do something different with life.

Chris Rock: Writer/Director Pt. 1 (Prelude)

Chris Rock is the best stand-up comedian working today. He has an amazing voice and delivery, but what makes his comedy work the most is the writing. The set-up, the execution, the word selection, the punchline, the implications. His material is rooted in reality, and is funny because it speaks the truth on any subject; from adultery and O.J. Simpson, to his infamous "Black People Vs. Niggas" routine and his mocking of the Backstreet Boys and NSync at the 1999 Video Music Awards. He is a master at using line repetition, lengthy off-topic digressions, and payoff jokes. Ever since his series on HBO, his work has become increasingly more topical and politically minded. This suits Rock well as he is one of the more piercing social commentators among his contemporaries (Jon Stewart, Keith Olbermann, South Park). Rock constantly works on the road and seems to be a committed standup artist.

Rock has not had that much luck in the movies however. CB4 was one of Rock's first creative projects to hit the big screen while he was still associated with SNL. While I have a soft spot for the film and its sendup of early-90's gangsta-rap and music culture, it didn't exactly burn up the box office. He has appeared in numerous films, most noteworthy being Dogma, and Nurse Betty.

Since, Rock has co-written at least three films made into production: Down To Earth (2001), which was directed by the The Weitz Brothers (ye of The Golden Compass and American Pie(the original one!)), Head Of State (2003) which marked Rock's directorial debut, and this year's I Think I Love My Wife again directed by Rock.

I have not seen "Down To Earth". It is a remake of Warren Beatty's 1978 classic Heaven Can Wait (which itself is a remake of Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)). I also have not seen "Head of State", although I had interest at the time of its theatrical release and because of my interest in Rock's political humor. It got medium reviews during its release and I think that put me off seeing it initially.

I was on the road during the release of this year's "I Think I Love My Wife", but what struck me the most about this film was that Rock was remaking Rohmer's Chloe In The Afternoon!!! Chris Rock was going to remake a Nouvelle Vague film? Huh!?!? Suffice to say, I did not have the chance to see it.

Where this all leads me is to two fascination interviews with Rock I heard this year via the wonders of the podcast. The first was with Elvis Mitchell on KCRW's The Treatment, the second with Jeff Goldsmith of Creative Screenwriting magazine on their podcast. Both are available easier through ITunes if you swing that way.

What is fascinating about these interviews is how difficult it is for Rock to anything with his voice in comedy-film world. For instance, the studio wanted one his scripts "more black", so they hired a team of Jewish writers to punch it up. The studios initially told Rock that "CB4" was "too smart". His manager did not want Rock remaking "Chloe In The Afternoon", so Rock says he fired him! Rock sounds like he has had all sorts of studio interference in the making of his films, and perhaps that's why his film projects seemed to look like a neutered version of his standup act.

But these interviews got me on Rock's side. Rock is a very smart man as he illustrates in his interviews (the screenwriting one he is interviewed with his co-writer Louis CK) and I have decided to give his film material a new benefit of the doubt. I recently picked up "Down To Earth" and "Head Of State" on sale, and plan on getting "I Think I Love My Wife" soon. I plan to watch these films, not looking for hidden masterpieces, but looking for elements of Rock's style of humor; if that's translated to his films and how it has or has not.

This may sound like a thank/point-less task, but the man has created some of most focused and funny standup in the last ten years. These interviews showcase an amazing writer who can use his voice freely and without censor in one medium (standup), but is limited within another (film). These interviews really make me root for Chris Rock.