THINKFilm

The Hottest State answers the following question: "What if the white guy from Training Day wrote and directed a movie from his own novel?" In this, William Harding, a young actor from Texas, tries to succeed in New York while struggling in his relationship with an attractive woman, Sara Garcia. Actor Mark Webber is effective as William, while actress Catalina Sandino Moreno (the star of Maria Full of Grace) is a patchy sum of details: she's a Latina, has been wounded by a bad breakup, and comes from a wealthy Connecticut background. Like Hawke, William is from Texas, the hottest state referred to in the title. The film is loaded with impressive technical tricks, but when Hawke simply lets his actors cook, the film sizzles. -forrest green III

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