Lakeboat (2000)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Joe Mantegna

Writer:

David Mamet (written by)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Film adaptation of David Mamet's comic play Lakeboat about a grad student who takes a summer job on a Great Lakes freighter and sees life through the eyes of his low-brow crew members.

Plot Keywords:

Great Lakes | Summer Job | Prostitute | Flashback Sequence | Reference To Camel Cigarettes

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Charles Durning	...	Skippy
Peter Falk	...	The Pierman
Denis Leary	...	The Fireman
Robert Forster	...	Joe Pitko
J.J. Johnston	...	Stan
Tony Mamet	...	Dale Katzman
Jack Wallace	...	Fred
George Wendt	...	First Mate Collins
Andy Garcia	...	Guigliani
Roberta Angelica	...	Prostitute
Diane Fabian	...	Janice, Age 50
Lori Gordon	...	Janice, Age 18
Steven Grayhm	...	Fred, Age 18
Jason Jazrawy	...	Joe Litko, Age 20
Patrick Patterson	...	Janice's Husband

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | Australia:MA (cable rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

One Vibe Entertainment

Quotes:

Stan: Boy, did I get laid last night.
Fred: One of the lads on the boat?
Stan: By a woman, Freddie. A woman. Do you remember them? Soft things with a hole in the middle?

100% Undistilled Mamet

"Lakeboat" is not necessarily a cinematic tour-de-force, but that doesn't prevent it from being a terrific movie in it's own right. As a showcase for David Mamet's particular knack for rough-hewn, tartly staccato dialogue the film succeeds admirably. If you're a fan of Mamet's trademark writing style, you'll be happy to see him get back to the blue-collar Chicago roots of his characters. Though he's transplanted them to various settings, including the wilderness ( the underrated "The Edge") and Victorian England (by way of Terence Rattigan in "The Winslow Boy"), the people inhabiting "Lakeboat" just seem more at home with Mamet's words than the characters in some of his other works.

Though devoid of any real narrative drive, the film nonetheless shines, brought to life by a fine collection of character actors. Robert Forster is especially good, affecting a subtle sadness that by the end proves to be quite moving.

Incredibly funny and profane as all of Mamet's best works have been, "Lakeboat" is vastly enjoyable and at times very touching. Director Joe Mantegna easily navigates through Mamet's tricky verbiage and expands upon the play in what feels like a completely natural growth.

"Lakeboat" is by far one of the best films of this year.