Movie review - "Sunshine State" (2002) ** 1/2

I'm a John Sayles fan but I found this movie a little irritating. It had a lot of good stuff, intelligent writing, fine performances... but it's a bunch of essays really, rather than a movie. There's the black character who talks about black business in time of segregation, a white character who talks about history, a greek chorus of golfers (this device actually works really well) who talks about nature, a black doctor who talks about civil rights, an architect who talks about business, an ex footballer who talks about business. There aren't really any strong characters except for the lead two, Angela Bassett and Edie Falco (who is excellent). Its about property developers threatening a Florida Island - I felt a bit closer to the topic because in Australia property can be an obsession, particularly in Sydney and the Gold Coast. It misses that property money lust. It feels like an outsider film. Acting as always is strong, and the locations are pleasant.