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Originally Posted by Mikado
I've seen several Mamet films including Heist, Ronin,Glengarry Glen Ross, Wag the Dog. But the one that made me want to know who directed/wrote it was "Spanish Prisoner". This was awhile back, but I was just reminded of it because he has a new film coming out, "Spartan". What are some other good films by Mamet?
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For my money The Winslow Boy was his best directed movie, and Glengarry Glen Ross his best written movie (albeit adapted from his own play), as well as the best movie associated with Mamet. James Foley did a bang up job directing that movie.
I like Mamet's writing and his razor-sharp dialogue (although they do tend to get foiled up by his insistence on flat delivery), but I'm of the opinion that his scripts would be better served if they were directed by other directors of renown. Case in point, Ronin. It had all the signature Mamet style of dialogue and sparse expositions, but the sheer mastery of the director John Frankenheimer really shines through--and it is better served for it.
On the other hand, Spartan, which was a decent script overall (it started TOO WELL for its own good, because the resolution is a let down as a result)--but ultimately failed because of Mamet's inability to let the actors breathe a little with the material. In several spots the audience I watched Spartan with laughed at the odd dialogue and the way they were delivered.