Hot and heavy going

Experience has taught us that Ethan Hawke is a better actor than a novelist and a better novelist than a screenwriter-director, writes Michael Dwyer .

THE HOTTEST STATE

Directed by Ethan Hawke. Starring Mark Webber, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Laura Linney, Michelle Williams, Sonia Braga, Ethan Hawke, Frank Whaley 15 cert

**

His second outing as a director (after the pretentious Chelsea Walls) affirms that view.

The Hottest State is a relationship drama, based on his semi-autobiographical novel of William Harding, a young Texan who moves to New York to further his acting ambitions.

It begins promisingly enough when Harding falls for an attractive aspirant singer-songwriter (Moreno), and their affair becomes fraught with problems.

Hawke features as the struggling actor's father in this rambling, all-too-loquacious movie.

While he elicits capable performances all round, the movie gradually creaks under its self-indulgent contrivances. It goes directly to DVD here from Monday next.

© 2008 The Irish Times