Head of State (2003)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Chris Rock

Writers (WGA):

Chris Rock (written by) &
Ali LeRoi (written by)

Release Date:

28 March 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The only thing white is the house.

Plot:

When a presidential candidate dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign, the Democratic party unexpectedly picks a Washington, D.C. alderman, Mays Gilliam (Rock) as his replacement .

Plot Keywords:

Party | Washington D.C. | Alderman | President | Corruption

Awards:

9 nominations

Cast

Chris Rock	...	Mays Gilliam
Bernie Mac	...	Mitch Gilliam
Dylan Baker	...	Martin Geller
Nick Searcy	...	Brian Lewis
Lynn Whitfield	...	Debra Lassiter
Robin Givens	...	Kim
Tamala Jones	...	Lisa Clark
James Rebhorn	...	Sen. Bill Arnot
Keith David	...	Bernard Cooper
Tracy Morgan	...	Meat Man
Stephanie March	...	Nikki
Robert Stanton	...	Advisor
Jude Ciccolella	...	Mr. Earl
Nate Dogg	...	Himself
Angie Mattson	...	Nate's girl
Elizabeth Johnson	...	Nate's girl
Kirk Penberthy	...	Gaines
John Badila	...	Gen. Olson James
Ed Wheeler	...	Mr. Hawkins
Jamil Shaw	...	Kid
Gammy Singer	...	Miss Pearl (as Gammy L. Singer)
Ned Eisenberg	...	Mike Blake
Reg E. Cathey	...	Officer Waters
Brad Marshall	...	Demolition man
Patrice O'Neal	...	Warren (as Patrice Oneal)
Mario Joyner	...	Lotto man
Donald Neal	...	Senator (as Don Neal)
Beau James	...	Senator
Doug Roberts	...	Senator
Charles Able	...	Charlie
Raymond Clark	...	Mays Jr.
Camille J. Thomas	...	Super Whore drill instructor
Mark Zeisler	...	First fundraiser issue guy
Pat Moran	...	First fundraiser issue woman
Tad Ohta	...	Asian man
Eddy Challita	...	French man (as Brad Strange)
Clarke Peters	...	Fundraiser demo-tape man
Delaney Williams	...	Teamster
Wes Johnson	...	Teamster
Madeline DeVan	...	Singing lady
Deborah S. Smith	...	Singing lady
Victoria Chapman	...	Singing lady
John Hall	...	Hip-hop dancer
Robin L. Hall	...	Hip-hop dancer
Barbara G. Suto	...	Hip-hop dancer
Thomas Bevans	...	Hip-hop dancer
Helaine Fonda	...	Hip-hop dancer
Sharon Savoy	...	Hip-hop dancer
David Savoy	...	Hip-hop dancer
Terry Chasteen	...	Hip-hop dancer
Robert J. Norman	...	Hip-hop dancer
Ann Haynsworth	...	Hip-hop dancer
James R. Bergdahl	...	Hip-hop dancer
Linda Kenyon	...	Screaming woman
Alan Chadsey	...	Falling man
Irving Jacobs	...	First fundraiser partygoer
Norman Seltzer	...	First fundraiser husband
Patsy Grady Abrams	...	First fundraiser wife
Ashton Marks	...	Bob Perilla's Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band
Michael Munford	...	Bob Perilla's Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band
Michael Marceau	...	Bob Perilla's Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band
Akira Otsuka	...	Bob Perilla's Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band
Bob Perilla	...	Bob Perilla's Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band
Cornell D. Thomas	...	Muhammad Muhammad Muhammad
Lee E. Cox	...	Players Ball pimp
Jeremy Borash	...	Wrestling announcer
Scott Armstrong	...	Referee
Michael Ahl	...	Klansman
Annika Pergament	...	Cable anchorwoman
Gwendolyn Mulamba	...	Second fundraiser issue woman
Mike Hodge	...	Second fundraiser issue man
Gabrielle Goyette	...	The woman
Gustave Johnson	...	Chester Allen
Heather Simms	...	Tish (as Heather Alicia Simms)
Kevin Witt	...	Secret Service agent
Brenna McDonough	...	School reporter
Cory Rosemeier	...	Helicopter pilot
David DeBoy	...	Police chief
Caitlin Ray	...	Little girl
Kate Guyton	...	Foot lady
Jim Scopelitis	...	Pork man (as Jim Scopeletis)
Billoah Greene	...	Train station demo man
Mojo Gentry	...	Porter
Lucy Newman-Williams	...	Train station reporter
Jimmy Tingle	...	Talk-show host (as James Tingle)
Ivan Scott	...	Talk-show host
Doris E. McMillon	...	Talk-show host
Sloane Brown	...	Roadside reporter
Steven Maurice	...	Shorty G
Lois Kelso Hunt	...	Lewis' mother
Novella Nelson	...	Moderator
Nancy Ding	...	Voter on street
John F. Degen	...	Voter on street
H. Renee	...	Voter on street
James G. Pasierb	...	Voter on street
Ali LeRoi	...	Crazy hostile dreadlock voter
Sade Baderinwa	...	Transit reporter
Leeanna Saunders	...	Old woman transit rider (as LeeAnna Saunders)
Kevin Reese	...	Anchor
Stan Stovall	...	Anchor
Peter Puglisi	...	California screamer
Marilyn Getas	...	National anchor
Bruce Elliott	...	National anchor
Tony Harris	...	Local anchor
Jennifer Gilbert	...	Local anchor
Donna Hamilton	...	Regional anchor
Funkmaster Flex	...	Inaugural Ball announcer (as DJ Funkmaster Flex)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Justine Baker	...	Voter (uncredited)
Sho Brown	...	Bystander (uncredited)
Tray Chaney	...	Extra (uncredited)
Brandon DeGroat	...	"Angry Mob" Member (uncredited)
Christina DeRosa	...	School Girl (uncredited)
Shawn Donley	...	Voter on Street (uncredited)
Dawn Douglas	...	Woman pointing (uncredited)
Daniel Ferro	...	Political Activist (uncredited)
Art Hall	...	Campaign Worker (uncredited)
Marianne Hayden	...	Party guest (uncredited)
Tony Head	...	Brad Harper (uncredited)
Rodney J. Hobbs	...	City Hall employee (uncredited)
SiSi Kache	...	Party guest (uncredited)
Rick Kain	...	Secret Service Agent (uncredited)
Jacqui Karpel	...	Political rally attendee (uncredited)
Paul Majors	...	Channel 6 reporter (uncredited)
Kerry Meushaw	...	Nate Dogg dancer end scene (uncredited)
Christopher H. Myers	...	Consumer (uncredited)
Peechee Neric	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Gavin Peretti	...	Campaign Audience (uncredited)
Britt Prentice	...	Stair Dancer at fundraiser ball (uncredited)
Daniel Ross	...	Blue Collar Worker (uncredited)
Al Sotto	...	Eskimo (uncredited)
Michael A. Tessiero	...	Insane runner (uncredited)
Don Whatley	...	Egg Thrower (uncredited)
Chandra Wilson	...	Jaime (uncredited)
Neeta Wooten	...	Party Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Chris Rock

Writing credits (WGA)
Chris Rock		(written by) &
Ali LeRoi		(written by)

Produced by
Ali LeRoi	....	producer
Chris Rock	....	producer
Michael Rotenberg	....	producer
Ezra Swerdlow	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Marcus Miller
DJ Quik		(as David 'DJ Quik' Blake)

Cinematography by
Donald E. Thorin

Film Editing by
Stephen A. Rotter

Casting by
Kim Coleman		(as Kim Taylor-Coleman)
Victoria Thomas		(as Vicki Thomas)

Production Design by
Steven J. Jordan		(as Steven Jordan)

Art Direction by
Ray Kluga

Set Decoration by
Jay Klein
Brian Ziegler

Costume Design by
Amanda Sanders

Makeup Department
Lisa Deveaux	....	makeup artist: Mr. Rock
Scott Julion	....	hair stylist: Mr. Rock
Sandra Linn Koepper	....	makeup artist
Janice Tunnell	....	additional makeup artist
Taurance F. Williams	....	hair stylist
Joseph P. Hurt	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Ngozi Olandu	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Mark Graziano	....	post-production supervisor
Lenny Vullo	....	unit production manager
Christine K. Walker	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
H.H. Cooper	....	first assistant director
Karen Davis	....	second assistant director
Ali LeRoi	....	second unit director
Ruben Flores Rios II	....	day-player second second assistant director

Art Department
Erik Boring	....	set dresser
Carl Catanese	....	set buyer
William Catania	....	propmaker
Terry Clark	....	set dresser
Michael Davis	....	construction coordinator
Susanna Glattly	....	scenic charge
Jeffrey Pratt Gordon	....	set dresser
James Hatzell	....	lead man
James Hatzell	....	scenic artist
Leo Holder	....	graphic artist
Jordan Jacobs	....	assistant art director
Andrea Levine	....	assistant propmaster
Ted Lubonovich II	....	construction gang boss
Ron Napier	....	head foreman
Jennie Hill Robinson	....	key greens
Arthur Shippee	....	property master
Rebecca Shpak	....	greens
Jeff Stacy	....	leadman
E. Parker Webb	....	greens
E. Parker Webb	....	second on-set dresser
Chad E. Williams	....	set dresser
Tiffany Zappulla	....	art researcher
Tom Concordia	....	photographic artworks (uncredited)
Kristina Kilpe	....	props assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
George H. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor
David A. Arnold	....	dialogue editor
Bill Burns	....	assistant sound editor
Mick Davies	....	boom operator
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer
Kevin Globerman	....	ProTools operator
Vincent Guisetti	....	foley artist
Pamela Kahn	....	foley artist
Larry Kemp	....	adr supervisor
Howard London	....	adr mixer
Cindy Marty	....	sound effects editor
James Matheny	....	dialogue editor
Lorenzo Millan	....	boom operator: second unit
Whit Norris	....	production sound mixer
Greg Orloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Pritchett	....	sound mixer
Kyle Rochlin	....	foley mixer
Roy Seeger	....	foley editor
Cherie Tamai	....	first assistant sound editor
Peter Thomas	....	location sound mixer: second unit

Special Effects by
Thomas Turnbull	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Randall Balsmeyer	....	visual effects
Cassia Buss	....	visual effects production coordinator: Toybox
Dug Claxton	....	digital effects compositor
J. John Corbett	....	visual effects
Paul C. George	....	senior 3D animator: ToyBox
Mark Goldberg	....	digital effects artist: Toybox
Adrian Graham	....	3D technical director: Toybox
Michael Hatton	....	senior digital effects artist: Toybox
Phil Jones	....	visual effects supervisor: Toybox
Khi Kim	....	3D animator: ToyBox
Wendy Lanning	....	visual effects producer: Toybox
Zachary V. Lowe	....	3D animator: ToyBox
Richard Oey	....	3D animator: ToyBox
Nick Perks	....	3D animator: ToyBox
Geoff D.E. Scott	....	senior 3D animator: Toybox
Bojan Zoric	....	digital matte painter: Toybox

Stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunt driver
Norman Douglass	....	stunt driver
Frank Ferrara	....	stunt driver
Steve Mack	....	stunt driver
Michael Russo	....	stunt coordinator
Jeff Ward	....	stunt driver
Kym Washington	....	stunt double
Greg Wattkis	....	stunt double: Chris Rock

Camera and Electrical Department
Tim Arasheben	....	assistant camera: aerial unit
Wayne Arnold	....	assistant camera
Frank Boone	....	grip
Joey Bruce	....	grip
Phillip V. Caruso	....	still photographer
Dean Citroni	....	grip
Kenneth Dodd	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Jennifer Evans	....	grip
Rodney French	....	grip
Michael Gearhart	....	grip
Peter Girolami	....	rigging gaffer
Tim Gordon	....	lighting technician
David Insley	....	camera operator
Richard Klompus	....	video assist operator
Christopher Murphy	....	video assist operator: second unit
Jason Parker	....	rigging electrician
Myron Parran	....	third camera assistant
George Patsos	....	key grip
Michael Rich	....	lighting technician
Rick Strodel	....	grip
Kirk Tedeski	....	video playback coordinator
Christopher A. Thompson	....	electrician
John Trapman	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Mark Walpole	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Rob Coughlin	....	video assist operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Nicole Abellera	....	casting assistant
DJ Stefanich	....	extras casting assistant
John Strawbridge	....	casting associate
Latrell Manuel	....	casting: Las Vegas (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Susan Antonelli	....	set costumer
Linda M. Boyland	....	set costumer
Carl Curnutte III	....	costume supervisor
Catharine Fletcher Incaprera	....	assistant costume designer
Michele Forsythe	....	set costumer
Joan M. Lynch	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Laura Lee Bong	....	first assistant film editor
Martin Cohen	....	post-production executive
Kevin Du Toit	....	assistant post-production
Abdul Franklin	....	assistant editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Gershon Hinkson	....	assistant editor
Irene Kassow	....	first assistant editor
Nelson Ryland	....	assistant editor
Joëlle Taar	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Michele Aristy	....	score assistant
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Todd Homme	....	executive music supervisor
Nicholas Meyers	....	music editor
Alan Meyerson	....	music scoring mixer
Gary Raymond	....	music playback operator: ProTools
Melodee Sutton	....	music supervisor
Sally Swisher	....	assistant music editor
Booker White	....	music preparation

Transportation Department
Charles E. Bauer	....	driver
Michael Luckeroth	....	transportation coordinator
Nicholas Rich	....	driver: film bus
Gerald Titus	....	transportation captain
Douglas A. Walk	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Annie Noel Applegarth	....	location manager
Larry Bartels	....	production assistant (as Larry Bartles)
Michael Bederman	....	production accountant
Chad Bronson	....	accounting clerk
Jane Burka	....	script supervisor: second unit
Elizabeth Cline	....	set production assistant: day player )
Paul Conti	....	video/computer playback engineer
Kyle DeAngelo	....	assistant: Mr. LeRoi
Michael Faulkner	....	location assistant
Ray Felipe	....	script researcher
Paul D. Fischer	....	script coordinator
Jeff Flach	....	location manager
Nicci Freeman	....	production assistant
Cliff Fuller	....	assistant production office coordinator
Kim Garman	....	assistant accountant
Joeby Gibson	....	production assistant
Kurt Greufe	....	first assistant accountant
Chuck Gueno	....	assistant: Mr. Mac (as Charles Gueno Jr.)
Brad K. Harper	....	special services: Mr. Rock (as Brad Harper)
Alan Jacques	....	dailies projectionist
Jay Johnson	....	title designer
Joy Johnson	....	assistant: Mr. Swerdlow
Kali Londono	....	assistant: Mr. Rock (as Kali Londoño)
Joseph Martin	....	assistant location manager
Maureen McEvoy	....	set production assistant
Steven R. Molen	....	production executive
Ocilia Newby	....	director production assistant
Brian Niemczyk	....	set production assistant
Dawson Nolley	....	location production assistant
Emily Palmer	....	lead film runner
Shanalyna C. Palmer	....	key set production assistant
George A. Parker	....	dailies projectionist
Jennifer Pedevilla	....	payroll accountant
David Price	....	production coordinator
Will Reichel	....	assistant to producers
Brieann Rich	....	set medic
Fatima Robinson	....	choreographer (as Fatima)
Josh Slates	....	assistant: Ezra Swerdlow
Josh Slates	....	location assistant
Christopher Sneade	....	production secretary
Sheri St Lawrence	....	second assistant accountant
Tucker Voorhees	....	assistant: Mr. Rotenberg
Brendan Walsh	....	production assistant
Anthony Wanzer	....	stand-in
Deborah Wuliger	....	unit publicist
Kerry Yancheski	....	office production assistant
Rehya Young	....	clearance
Rehya Young	....	stock footage
Grant Chism	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Aaron B. Cooke	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Christopher Scott	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Neeta Wooten	....	stand-in: Robin Givens (uncredited)

Production Companies

• DreamWorks SKG
• 3 Art Entertainment

Distributors

• DreamWorks Distribution (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (theatrical) (non-USA)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2007) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• DreamWorks Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (VHS)
• Veronica (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Special Effects

• Big Film Design (Mt. Rushmore effects sequence)
• Keyframe Digital Productions Inc. (3-D pre-visualization)
• Moving Pictures
• Pacific Title and Art Studio
• Toybox

Other Companies

• Act One Script Clearance  script research
• Boston Light & Sound  dailies projection system
• Hannibal Studios  score recording facility
• On Tour Productions  grip and lighting equipment
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Paramount Transportation Services  picture vehicles
• Paramount Transportation Services  transportation services
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound post-production

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, some sexuality and drug references.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-7 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Germany:6 | Ireland:15 | Norway:11 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39659)

Filming Locations:

Annapolis, Maryland, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

Part of the presidential debate is a verbatim repeat of Monty Python's Argument Sketch.

Goofs:

Factual errors: School busses in the State of Florida do not have the name of Parishes on them. Florida has counties, all school busses in the state have the name of the county followed by district schools on them.

Quotes:

Mays Gilliam: I asked my niece the other day what 4 plus 4 was. She said 44.
Crowd Member: It is!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

A Woman Needs to Be Loved

The Cradle Will "Rock".

An angry commentary on American politics and the current state of the Republican Party today is made quite clear in "Head of State". Chris Rock stars as a relatively normal man who is having a string of bad luck in one of the roughest areas of Washington, D.C. A heroic rescue of one of his elderly friends leads to Rock getting in the spotlight. Meanwhile the Democratic presidential nominee for 2004 has tragically died in a plane crash. The party feels they have no chance in the election so they come up with an idea to sway minority voters so the Democrats (namely candidate James Rebhorn) can re-claim the presidency in 2008. Get the picture? Dylan Baker and Lynn Whitfield are the two campaign managers assigned to Rock's cause, but soon Rock starts running his own show. Throughout, the Republican nominee (goof-ball Nick Searcy, a character that is an unsympathetic carbon-copy of President George W. Bush) continues to lead the polls mainly because he has been vice president for eight years, is a war hero and is also Sharon Stone's cousin. However, Rock's antics quickly make him the darkest of dark horses in a tight race. Along for the ride also is love interest Tamala Jones, ex-girlfriend Robin Givens (in a psychotic role), personal assistant Stephanie March and the priceless Bernie Mac (in a part that is way too limited). Mac eventually becomes the running mate for Rock. The fact that he is Rock's older brother makes him the most trust-worthy person in a twisted circle. "Head of State" has shades of Warren Beatty's "Bulworth" all over it. Rock, however would rather shy away with sometimes silly comedy than tackling the issues like the aforementioned film did. The Republican Party has already boycotted this film due to the way they are portrayed and that fact has made the production go into a minor financial tail-spin at the box office (overall "Head of State" has been a disappointment economically speaking). Politics aside, the film ultimately fails due to Rock's shortcomings as a director and screenwriter. He definitely has some things to say, but the way he conveys his thoughts are such a jumble on the big screen that the film almost becomes tedious. Rock has a likeable cast and yet he tries to carry the show by himself. This is not a very good thing in the end. Overall I do respect Rock's views and I do think he made a movie that pushes the envelope on some issues in the U.S. today, but in the end "Head of State" is just another potentially good production that never does rise to expectations. 2.5 out of 5 stars.