Why Are Mamet's Films Often Criticised?

David Mamet has written many movies (The Edge, Heist, Spanish Prisoner, UnTouchables) and recently the television show The Unit.

Mamet is infamous for not delivering to his audience more information than is required to tell the story.  He holds back on what is called exposition, refusing to patronise the audience.  In the past, this has not always worked to my opinion.  Some people also find his writing 'stiff' or 'clunky' but it is important to see that it is a 'style' of writing, which says something about how he feels people talk.

Although he does use the same actors a lot, Mamet sometimes casts very famous actors, and often it is thought that this is not the usual fare and given poor reviews.  In my opinion, this is when those actors are really at their best!  Alec Baldwin in The Edge, Sarah Jessica Parker in State and Main, Sean Connery in The Untouchables (okay, it's not strictly Mamet's movie), and/or Gene Hackman in Heist.