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Head of State streaming

2003 Movie United States Comedy 95 min Ages 12+
By: Chris Rock With: Lynn Whitfield, Tamala Jones, Dylan Baker, Robin Givens, Nick Searcy

One candidate for the presidency dies in an accident a couple of weeks before the election. Meanwhile the alderman Mays Gilliam becomes a hero when he rescues a woman and her cat from an old house that would blow up. However his fiancee Kim does not pay his bills and dumps him, and Gilliam loses everything including his fancy car. When Senator Bill Arnot sees the news on television, he plots a scheme with the party advisors Martin Geller and Debra Lassiter to invite Mays to be the party nominee and lose the election for the other candidate, Vice-President Brian Lewis. Four years later, he would be the candidate and would have the chance of winning the election. Mays has a terrible beginning of campaign but when his older brother Mitch Gilliam meets him in Chicago, he advises Mays to be himself. Will he have the chance to be the first African American President of the USA?

Filmium rating
55%

Festival Achievements

Rotterdam International Film Festival 2004
Selections:
short films

Mood

Comedic
Hopeful
Light-Hearted
Lighthearted
Satirical

Cast & Crew

Chris Rock
Ali LeRoi
Dylan Baker
Tamala Jones
Lynn Whitfield
Nick Searcy
Robin Givens
Bernie Mac
Bernie Mac As Mitch Gilliam
Chris Rock As Mays Gilliam
Comedic Ensemble
Directorial Debut
Ensemble Cast

Cinematic Technique

Comedic Timing
Dialogue-Driven
Directorial Debut
Satirical Visuals
Traditional Filming
Visual Comedy

Narrative Structure

Comedy Of Errors
Political Satire

Pace

Dynamic
Energetic
Engaging
Fast-Paced
Quick-Witted

Style

Comedy
Narrative-Driven
Political Satire

Time-Period

Early 2000S

Central Conflict

Media Smear Campaign
Public Opinion
Unexpected Presidential Candidacy

Characters

African-American Politician
Brother
Campaign Staff

Ending

Happy Ending
Presidential Victory
Romantic Proposal

Historical Context

Early 2000S Politics

Key Plot Points

Candidate Rise
Debate Victory
Winning Election

Plot

Comedic Conflict
Comedy Satire
Political Campaign
Presidential Election
Social Commentary
Unexpected Hero

Setting

Washington D.C.

Shooting Location

Washington D.C.

Theme

Empowerment
Personal Growth
Political Identity
Political Representation
Political Satire
Race And Representation
Social Justice
Truth In Politics

Genre

Comedy
Drama
Political Comedy
Political Satire
Romantic Comedy
Satire

Audiences

Adults
Comedy Lovers
Political Enthusiasts
Political Satire Fans

Titles

Head Of State
Head of State - Das weisse Haus sieht schwarz
Président par accident
Um Pobretão na Casa Branca

Reception

Audience Response
Critic Score 30%
Critical Reception
Ebert Positive
Mixed Reviews

Production Countries

United States

Release Year

2003
mowizz ID: 00fa1fc8-2c6c-490b-85f1-e324370512c9
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