When clever dialogue doesn't work

In general, I like Mamet but sometimes he just cannot restrain himself. Clever dialogue is great but when it becomes more important than characterization (as it does in State and Main), then it take you right out of the movie.

Mamet's unfortunate habit of casting his wives (first Lindsay Crouse, then Rebecca Pidgeon) in his movies reaches its lowest point with Pidgeon's obnoxiously smarmy performance.