Stateside (film)
Encyclopedia
Stateside is a 2004 romantic drama film film based on a true story. It is an adventurous love story about a high school rich kid serving in the Marine Corps
to avoid jail, who eventually falls in love with a schizophrenic actress. Those around them ask them to keep their distance from each other, but both refuse. The film is based on a true story, supposedly about actress Sarah Holcomb
.
The film is rated R for language, some sexuality/nudity, and underage drinking. It was released to theaters on May 21, 2004, and released on video/DVD on October 12, 2004.
) is an actress and singer who resides in Hollywood, California. She is an undiagnosed schizophrenic, which causes problems in her career. After another concert goes wrong due to her untreated disease, she is finally sent to get help for her schizophrenia.
Meanwhile, Mark Deloach (Tucker
) is a rich high school kid miles away, attending a Catholic school. Though generally shy around girls and a good kid, he takes part in underage drinking. His brother, Gregory, who has secret sexual rendezvous with the prestigious Sue Dubois (Bruckner
), has one of their dirty notes blamed on him. He and a buddy of his decide to pay him back by taking Sue back to her mother and reveal what's been going on with her and Gregory which they knew she will not approve of. In the process a DWI car crash occurs, resulting in the injury of both Sue and Father Concoff (Begley
), the principal of their high school.
Sue's mother, Mrs. Dubois (Fisher
), decides to press charges against Mark. However, a deal is made to have Mark serve in the Marine Corps instead of jail time.
Mark departs to his training and finds that the Senior Drill Instructor, Staff Sergeant Skeer (Kilmer
), has taken an interest in him as his pet project due to Mark using the Corps to escape jail time. Eventually, Mark satisfies the tough platoon leader and Mark officially becomes a Marine.
Once back home he finds himself cutting ties with his friends and ends up befriending Sue, who is now in a half way house, and Dorri, who is her roommate. He also apologizes to Father Concoff, who accepts his apology though still angry with what occurred. Mark and Dorri set up a date with each other to go to a dance, but she doesn't get to go. Mark leaves her gift. Later, he and Dorri go out on a date and Mark losing his virginity with her.
Dorri and Mark keep in contact through letters and phone calls, but eventually Dorri's illness worsens and she loses touch with reality. Friends and family beg Mark to help Dorri get treatment, but he opposes any suggestion that might separate them. Eventually, an intervention support group keeps the two away.
Mark is deployed overseas action and is injured in the Beirut bombing
. He returns home with an honorable discharge. Apart for two years, Dorri contacts Mark in a hospital where he has been healing from his battlefield wounds. They plan to marry and start a new life together.
Anselmo, the writer/director, was a Marine, and the men who played Marines, actually went through Marine boot camp to prepare for their roles.
.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
to avoid jail, who eventually falls in love with a schizophrenic actress. Those around them ask them to keep their distance from each other, but both refuse. The film is based on a true story, supposedly about actress Sarah Holcomb
Sarah Holcomb
Sarah Holcomb is a former American actress. She first appeared in National Lampoon's Animal House and in three other films, ending with Caddyshack...
.
The film is rated R for language, some sexuality/nudity, and underage drinking. It was released to theaters on May 21, 2004, and released on video/DVD on October 12, 2004.
Plot
Dorri Lawrence (CookRachael Leigh Cook
Rachael Leigh Cook is an American actress, known for her role in the romantic comedy She's All That and her This is Your Brain on Drugs public service announcement.-Early life:...
) is an actress and singer who resides in Hollywood, California. She is an undiagnosed schizophrenic, which causes problems in her career. After another concert goes wrong due to her untreated disease, she is finally sent to get help for her schizophrenia.
Meanwhile, Mark Deloach (Tucker
Jonathan Tucker
Jonathan Moss Tucker is an American film and television actor, best known for his roles in the movies The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hostage, In the Valley of Elah and The Ruins, and The Black Donnellys on television....
) is a rich high school kid miles away, attending a Catholic school. Though generally shy around girls and a good kid, he takes part in underage drinking. His brother, Gregory, who has secret sexual rendezvous with the prestigious Sue Dubois (Bruckner
Agnes Bruckner
Agnes Bruckner is an American actress. She began acting on television in the late 1990s and has since appeared in seven films, including The Woods, Blue Car, and Murder By Numbers.-Early life:...
), has one of their dirty notes blamed on him. He and a buddy of his decide to pay him back by taking Sue back to her mother and reveal what's been going on with her and Gregory which they knew she will not approve of. In the process a DWI car crash occurs, resulting in the injury of both Sue and Father Concoff (Begley
Ed Begley, Jr.
Edward James "Ed" Begley, Jr. is an American actor and environmentalist. Begley has appeared in hundreds of films, television shows, and stage performances. He is best known for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich, on the television series St...
), the principal of their high school.
Sue's mother, Mrs. Dubois (Fisher
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Frances Fisher is an American actress, novelist, screenwriter, and lecturer. She is most famous for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, her bestselling novel Postcards from the Edge, for which she wrote the screenplay to the film of the same name, and her...
), decides to press charges against Mark. However, a deal is made to have Mark serve in the Marine Corps instead of jail time.
Mark departs to his training and finds that the Senior Drill Instructor, Staff Sergeant Skeer (Kilmer
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
), has taken an interest in him as his pet project due to Mark using the Corps to escape jail time. Eventually, Mark satisfies the tough platoon leader and Mark officially becomes a Marine.
Once back home he finds himself cutting ties with his friends and ends up befriending Sue, who is now in a half way house, and Dorri, who is her roommate. He also apologizes to Father Concoff, who accepts his apology though still angry with what occurred. Mark and Dorri set up a date with each other to go to a dance, but she doesn't get to go. Mark leaves her gift. Later, he and Dorri go out on a date and Mark losing his virginity with her.
Dorri and Mark keep in contact through letters and phone calls, but eventually Dorri's illness worsens and she loses touch with reality. Friends and family beg Mark to help Dorri get treatment, but he opposes any suggestion that might separate them. Eventually, an intervention support group keeps the two away.
Mark is deployed overseas action and is injured in the Beirut bombing
1983 Beirut barracks bombing
The Beirut Barracks Bombing occurred during the Lebanese Civil War, when two truck bombs struck separate buildings housing United States and French military forces—members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon—killing 299 American and French servicemen...
. He returns home with an honorable discharge. Apart for two years, Dorri contacts Mark in a hospital where he has been healing from his battlefield wounds. They plan to marry and start a new life together.
Production
Co-Producer Bonnie Hlinomaz claims that after just reading the first page of the script, she instantly wanted to be part of the film. The film took eight weeks to shoot. To prepare for the role, Cook actually spent time with patients suffering from schizophrenia, and read medical books from her father on this subject.Anselmo, the writer/director, was a Marine, and the men who played Marines, actually went through Marine boot camp to prepare for their roles.
Reception
Released on May 21, 2004, the film was a box office failure, and experienced a very brief run in theaters, making just $113,620. Critical response was largely negative, and it currently holds a 24% positive rating at Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.