Head of State (2003)

When a presidential candidate dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign, Washington, D.C. alderman, Mays Gilliam is unexpectedly picked as his replacement.

Director:

Chris Rock

Writers:

Chris Rock, Ali LeRoi

Stars:

Chris Rock, Bernie Mac, Lynn Whitfield

10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Senator 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

Storyline

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?

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Plot Keywords:

party | alderman | washington d.c. | presidential candidate | president | 

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Taglines:

The only thing white is the house.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chef de l'état

Filming Locations:

Annapolis, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,503,484, 30 March 2003, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$37,788,228, 8 June 2003

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks, 3 Arts Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tina Fey was one of the five uncredited writers who did a re-write on the screenplay.

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Goofs

The city of Washington, D.C. does not have aldermen, but councilmen. Nor is there a 9th ward, there are only 8.

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Quotes

Mays Gilliam: [on a bullhorn outside Lewis's office] Yo, Lewis! Your mother's ass is so big, when she sits down, she's three feet taller! Yo, Lewis!
Advisor: Sir, I think it's time we prepare for a debate.
Brian Lewis: Aw, give me one good reason I should debate that jerk.
Advisor: [distressed] He talked about your mother, sir!
Brian Lewis: So what?
Lewis' mother: [Lewis's mother enters and slaps him] Are you going to just let him talk about me like that?

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Crazy Credits

In the opening credits, it lists many famous politicians, then in parenthesis it says "(Are not in this movie)".

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Connections

References Monty Python's Flying Circus: The Money Programme (1972)

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Soundtracks

Slipped on da Ice
Written by Amir & David Blake
Performed by Amir
Courtesy of Dope Fiend/Euponic Records

User Reviews

Funny (and Visionary) Silliness

One candidate for the presidency dies in an accident a couple of weeks before the election. Meanwhile the alderman Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) becomes a hero when he rescues a woman and her cat from an old house that would blow up. However his fiancée Kim (Robin Givens) does not pay his bills and dumps him, and Gilliam loses everything including his fancy car. When Senator Bill Arnot (James Rebhorn) sees the news on television, he plots a scheme with the party advisors Martin Geller (Dylan Baker) and Debra Lassiter (Lynn Whitfield) to invite Mays to be the party nominee and lose the election for the other candidate, Vice- President Brian Lewis (Nick Searcy). 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 (Bernie Mac) 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?

"Head of State" is a silly film that every now and then makes laugh. The uneven plot has memorable scenes, like the party with the guests dancing or when Mays tells that God should protect the whole world; but there are stupid scene, most of them with Mitch Gilliam in interviews. But in general, this film is satisfactory and entertains. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Um Pobretão na Casa Branca" ("A Pauper in the White House")