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Edie Falco, Angela Bassett, Jane Alexander, Ralph Waite, James McDaniel ... see more see more... , Timothy Hutton , Mary Alice , Bill Cobbs , Mary Steenburgen , Alex Lewis , Gordon Clapp , Richard Edson , Tom Wright , Perry Lang , Miguel Ferrer , Marc Blucas , Michael Greyeyes , Alan King , Charlayne Woodard , Eliot Asinof , Sam McMurray , Robert Wisdom

Writer and director John Sayles returns with another multi-layered look at an American community, subtly exploring how race, class, economics, and both national and regional history come together to s... read more read more...hape people's lives. Plantation Island is a community on the coast of Florida; the island was once a notorious hotbed of segregationists, with most of the African-American population centered in the neighborhood of Lincoln Beach, while Delrona Beach is primarily home to white residents. Marly Temple (Edie Falco) is the sixth generation of her family to live in Delrona Beach, where she helps run a motel and cafe owned by her elderly and ill-tempered father (Ralph Waite) and drama instructor mother (Jane Alexander). Marly's former husband, Steve (Richard Edson), is a scruffy ne'er do well who's a sucker for get-rich-quick scams, while her current boyfriend, Scotty (Marc Blucas), is struggling to make something of himself as a golf pro. Meanwhile, Desiree Perry (Angela Bassett) is an actress who is returning to Lincoln Beach for the first time since she was a teenager, hoping to introduce her new husband, Reggie (James McDaniel), to her mother, Eunice Stokes (Mary Alice). Desiree was the center of a minor local scandal when she became pregnant as a teenager and moved away. Eunice has never quite forgiven her, while Flash (Tom Wright), Desiree's high school boyfriend and the man responsible, hasn't seen her since. Eunice is looking after Terrell (Alex Lewis), a troubled youth recently found guilty of arson, and Desiree and Reggie soon find themselves bonding with the misguided youth. In time, Delrona Beach and Lincoln Beach are brought together by a common concern; Greg (Perry Lang) and Lester (Miguel Ferrer) are representatives from a nearby resort community looking to expand, with Plantation Island looking like their most likely target. As homeowners debate whether to sell or stay put, local government officials and the town's business community argue the merits and faults of the resort's expansion into Plantation Island. Meanwhile, Marly becomes romantically involved with Jack (Timothy Hutton), a landscape architect affiliated with the developers who seems to believe his work is doing more harm than good. Sunshine State also features Mary Steenburgen, Alan King, and Bill Cobbs. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

49% liked it

2,431 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

107 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 21 min.

Directed by: John Sayles

Release Date: June 21, 2002

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DVD Release Date: November 19, 2002

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Stats: 89 reviews

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Ebony Beauty Edie Falco in Sunshine State Sunshine State
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Flixster Reviews (89)

  • Redlats
    September 19, 2008
    Redlats
    A long movie - about two families in a Florida neighbourhood. The story includes a little of everything - family, greed, bias, expectations, suicide, fidelity, unplanned pregnancy, etc. etc. I enjoyed it - almost have to watch it again to recall all the stories.
  • tsigur
    December 9, 2007
    tsigur
    Edie Falco leads an impressive cast and John Sayles always gives you something to think about after the movie is over.
  • threefolddado
    June 27, 2008
    threefolddado
    Not the best John Sayles outing, but does have its moments.
  • dukeakasmudge
    October 4, 2010
    dukeakasmudge
    The description was interesting but the actual movie was boring! After wanting to turn it off a couple times, I finally did

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Critic Reviews

Peter Howell
August 9, 2002
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Sunshine State resembles Sayles' sketchbook more than his finished work, and we might hope that something more polished might spring from it. Full Review

Rick Groen
August 9, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Sunshine State has the structure, the theme, the style and, at 141 minutes, the length of a great John Sayles film. What it doesn't have, alas, is the merit. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
August 9, 2002
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

Sunshine State is an efficient helping of Sayles, insightful even when it's not richly entertaining or imbued with apparent passion.

Roger Moore
August 2, 2002
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

This is geographic history as personal history, a look at a vanishing world before the tide of progress immerses it. It's also superb independent filmmaking.

James Berardinelli
July 25, 2002
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Sunshine State lacks the brilliance of Sayles' most dynamic offerings, but, for those who don't mind an unhurried, deliberate narrative pace, this is a worthwhile offering. Full Review

Joe Baltake
July 19, 2002
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Sayles' approach to his material can be archly didactic, but then there's Bassett and especially Falco, who both bring lived-in qualities to their roles. Full Review

Desson Thomson
July 12, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

You can ignore the editorial bluntness and savor the smaller, sweeter details.

Ann Hornaday
July 12, 2002
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

A densely layered, always absorbing whole.

Eric Harrison
July 12, 2002
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

Sayles' movies lack the fluidity and grace of Altman at his best, but his 'big statement' films -- and this is one -- demand our attention. Full Review

Susan Stark
July 12, 2002
Susan Stark, Detroit News

Count on his movie to work at the back of your neck long after you leave the theater.

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