Kevin MacDonald’s political thriller “State Of Play” comes out this weekend and we have to hand it to the filmmaker (who also directed “The Last King of Scotland”), the picture was a commendable and serviceable thriller that really outpaced our expectations. Part of that, frankly, is because our expectations weren’t high. We were expecting a stock thriller or a wannabe “Parallex View” meets “All The President’s Men,” and there were standard-issue elements to the film, though they worked in a workman’s-like nature — the picture doesn’t try to be flashy and bares down for good ol’ intrigue-based storytelling. It doesn’t hurt that Tony Gilroy (“The Bourne” series) was one of the writers here.
Based on a acclaimed BBC series, “State of Play” follows a team of investigative reporters (Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren) who work alongside a police detective (Harry Lennix) to try to solve the murder of a congressman’s (Ben Affleck) mistress.
The performances are solid with Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams’ old school journo vs. new school blogger rapport being rather great (though some journos/bloggers will hopefully not overestimate the film too much just because we’re seeing a dialogue we discuss every day up onscreen; it’s fun to see, ostensibly for the first time, but we should all be aware when writing how much this intrinsically appeals to us). Helen Mirren and Robin Wright Penn are great too, but as you’d probably expect, Ben Affleck is the big weak link here (but since he’s playing a morally bankrupt politician, maybe it works in some respects).
Another element that will sucker in the journalists and critics is that, aside from all the political intrigue, “State Of Play” is very much a love letter to the printed word, the dying newspaper and the fading journalist — without giving up too much of a spoiler, there’s a coda at the end that basically plays out as a fetishistic print porn, essentially showing news going to print.
And we’ll admit that the fast and furious newsroom stuff plus the adrenaline excitement (you can smell a scoop about to surface) is topnotch stuff and super appealing to anyone who’s ever worked a beat. Pound for pound, the hacks’ story outdoes the thriller side with Affleck that’s more familiar and even formulaic at times despite all the twists (and let’s face it, simply too many twists).
Anywho, we didn’t mean to write much here and we wanted to leverage Jeffrey Wells’ review of the film because, for the most part, we agree with much of what he wrote (also he wisely notes that the twists in the film are far more easier to navigate — and far more satisfying — than Gilroy’s “Duplicity,” a spot-on observation).
On bloggers vs. journos section of the film:
In a way, State of Play feels like a kind of farewell valentine to the traditions and disciplines that define serious journalism. McDonald is clearly lamenting their erosion, which is mainly due to competition and influence from the 24/7 digital-blog economy, which tends to favor shoot-from-the-hip analysis over in-depth investigations. And yet the film’s undercurrent is telling us that the economic system that supports traditional reporting is weakening and perhaps losing its will.
He also notes how the film somehow successfully (miraculously?) cuts down a 6 hour mini-series (the aforementioned BBC one) and manages to still be comprehensible and not feel neutered (very true and very good point).
I had been skeptical about the pruning choices in getting the original six episode, 300-minute British miniseries down to two-hours plus. (What is it, 130 minutes?) I have watched the British version which is obviously a fuller and more detailed meal in some respects. (I loved the relative anonymity of the British actors, the standout being Bill Nighy as the paper’s senior editor). The upside is that the honing has demanded a story discipline on the part of McDonald & Co. that kept everything extra disciplined and tightly focused. No time for any funny stuff.
Wells goes a little overboard by endorsing Jason Batemen for award season love (he was good, but not that good), but there’s nothing wrong with enthusiasm for a film that’s far better than it should have been in the always truncating, simplifying hands of Hollywood. If anyone deserves the acting praise here, it’s Crowe and McAdams. He brings the hot-fire a few times and is just extremely believable as the schlubby, wise journo and damn, he’s really charismatic too. Maybe it’s his public persona, but dude doesn’t get enough love these days. He was also quite excellent in “Body of Lies,” as an overweight, slimy goon of a CIA boss but didn’t get any love for that supporting turn.
The film isn’t perfect (you can smell the ending down the hall), but it might be the most satisfying and enjoyable, nuts n’ bolts, no-nonsense Hollywood film we’ve seen this year.
Well, that confirms my belief that Ben Affleck is an unworthy successor to David Morrissey, who played Stephen Collins in the original miniseries. It’s too bad that Edward Norton and Brad Pitt both dropped out of the project; it would have been interesting to see the two of them spar again a decade after “Fight Club.”
My loyalty to the original work is very strong, and so I have had my doubts regarding this movie. I admit, however, that I am very curious to see Bateman in the Dominic Foy role (was there a ridiculous fur coat invovled?!), in addition to the print/online news angle that was not prevalent when the miniseries aired back in 2003.
I didn’t want to go any further than I already had (felt i was getting too long), but one of the highest compliments i can pay this movie is that it totally makes me want to go check out the original BBC series.
And yes, Norton and Pitt would have been great, but the politician character was sort of underwritten so i can see why whichever one was supposed to play that role bailed.
also, there were like 3 writers on that script and it seems like it changed a lot which is always a bad sign, but it turned out fairly well considering all that.
“in addition to the print/online news angle that was not prevalent when the miniseries aired back in 2003.”
Of course this angle wasn’t present in ’03 blogs were just getting off the ground. They wisely updated it and it would have been silly to ignore it. Including the print/online make the film feel fiercely contemporary, resonant and of the moment.
“Of course this angle wasn’t present in ’03 blogs were just getting off the ground.”
Yes, that was what I was alluding to. The only competition facing the protagonists in the miniseries was rival newspapers, which is obviously not the case today, what with the advent of online blogs and news sources. Man, this is making me think of “Shattered Glass,” and how it was such a big deal that it was a Forbes.com reporter who exposed Stephen Glass as a fake. How far we’ve come since then…
It’s a shame to hear about the Collins character. I felt that his complex relationship with Cal was one of the miniseries greatest strengths, and David Morrissey gave a powerhouse of a performance. He was even nominated for a BAFTA for it, but he ultimately lost to Bill Nighy, who played the Cameron Foster, the newspaper editor, in the miniseries. Not that I’m complaining there, as Nighy kind of wins at life.
The Shattered Glass guy Billy Ray also was one of the writers. I hope to write another piece by the end of the week.
This makes me want to check out both the film and mini-series. Is the time ripe for a in-depth piece on great, old fashioned reporting films now that newspapers are going the way of all flesh?
Other than Slumdog winning Best Picture (right?), I can’t remember a single thing about the last Oscars.
Enough with the award lobbying, media.
I agree, it’s far too early for anyone to be going to bat for award season. I hated this talk when The Dark Knight came out and everyone was freaking out about the film. That talk should be saved for the fall.
Billy Ray did revisions on Flightplan, Suspect Zero, Jon Avnet’s Friday Night Lights attempt and Hart’s War, just saying.
Be that as it may, Billy Ray’s baby was Shattered Glass and that film is excellent. Hell,he did the unthinkable: turned Anakin Skywalker into an unleaden actor.
He’s a great director, and Shattered Glass is likely the best movie about journalism since All the President’s Men, but Life as a House already proved Hayden was a capable actor.
i agree that anakin is good in the underrated Life as a House.
I was bout to chime in with Hayden being good in “Life as a House,” and Kline should’ve won Best Actor that year, yet wasn’t even nomed
Billy Ray also did Breach, which was a perfect movie.
Whoa, slow down there, pardner.
Alex: “He’s a great director, and Shattered Glass is likely the best movie about journalism since All the President’s Men”
Well, let’s not forget THE INSIDER which was also an amazing film about journalism too.
Hi there,
Which is that song that is played in the trailer of the movie…..its kinda guitar solo.
Any Idea??