Lakeboat Movie Review 2000

Longtime Mamet collaborator Mantegna makes his directorial debut adapting one of Mamet's earliest (and most autobiographical) plays. Grad student Dale (Mamet's younger brother Tony) signs on a Great Lakes ore freighter as the cook. Plot consists of Canturbury Tales-esque storytelling by the crew, along with differing opinions on what happened to the previous cook, ala "Roshamon." The thrust of the film is Dale's observations and gleanings from the crew, especially Joe (Forster), who once had artistic and educational ambitions which he gave up for a regular paycheck. Excellent, understated performances by all help mask the film's inability to escape its stage limitations and Mantegna's uneven first-time direction. Dialogue shows the promise, as well as the themes, realized in Mamet's later work.

Distribution

MTI Home Video, 14216 SW 136th St., Miami, FL 33186, Phone: (305)255-8684, Fax: (305)233-6943, Email: mti@mtivideo.com, URL: http://www.mtivideo.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 98 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Plays to Film: David Mamet, Sail Away, Men, Storytelling

Screenplay

David Mamet

Cast

Charles Durning, Peter Falk, Robert Forster, J.J. Johnston, Denis Leary, Jack Wallace, George Wendt, Saul Rubinek, Tony Mamet, Andy Garcia

Cinematography

Paul Sarossy

Director

Joe Mantegna

Music

Bob Mamet

Other

Joe Mantegna