State Of Play

Tagged: “Utterly Unmissable”
Source: Newspaper ad (The Sun)
Location: Burnley Apollo Cinema
Accompanied by: Andrew

Line reaction: I was hoping not to be served by the same moody lady, and I was in luck. A cheery employee, who even managed a smile, served me! As I handed over the money, I delivered the line, and the response…. was good! “I haven’t seen it yet. It started off quietly, but it’s become very popular all of a sudden. I think it’s because of word of mouth.”

Film Review:

I won’t lie, when my dad showed me the ad, I was gutted that this was tagged. My reason being is that I am yet to see a film starring Russell Crowe that I actually like. I just don’t rate the man as an actor, so my hopes were low. He plays the same role a lot of the time, and in this film, well, it’s a safe role again for him. The laid back, whispering, rugged yet savvy guy. YAWN!

State Of Play was originally a TV series penned by fellow Burnley man Paul Abbott, (to patronise you, he wrote Shameless, Children’s Ward, Clocking Off, and even penned a couple of episodes of Coronation Street – good man!). But here it’s been bastardised, sorry, I mean Yankified (racist?), and who better to play an American journalist than Mr America himself, Russell Crowe. You see, this is my problem with Russell Crowe; he can’t do an American accent very well. It’s difficult for him to cover up his Aussie accent. Why they couldn’t just have him be Australian, or have an American actor play the lead role is beyond me.

Also starring in this film is Ben Affleck. I don’t need to say anything that we don’t know already about his dodgy acting abilities. Other big names in the film are Rachael McAdams (if you love your chick flicks, you’ll love this lady, she starred in the ULTIMATE chick flick, The Notebook), Helen Mirren (you know what she’s been in. Remember that classic The Hawk? Well, she was in that). Jeff Daniels also shows up for a few scenes, and why not?

Ok, so the story of State Of Play is simple, a journo (that’d be Russell then, but he’s called Cal in this) and his colleagues stick their noses in a mysterious murder of a Congressman’s (that’d be Ben Affleck, he’s called Stephen in this, Stephen Collins) mistress. But lo and behold, there’s twists and turns at every corner of this film.

As the film started I got the impression that director Kevin McDonald was trying to capsulate the same feel of classic political thriller’s of the seventies, such as All The President’s Men (kudos Andrew for the title), but sadly, as Andrew pointed out, in this day and age it’s difficult to make an engrossing political thriller. I mean, there’s only so much you can do with the formula, and believe me this film fails at that. It’s a very pedestrian film, even using implausible twists that hold no water. It’s all a bit too convenient for Cal when he’s pulling these “sources” left, right and centre. Just where the hell has he got the “sources” from?!

One of the quotes on the film poster simply reads, “Gripping from start to finish”. It’s about as gripping as a banana skin (I’m not very good at analogies, that’s Sir Alan’s domain). My main problem with the film is that, aside from the minor plot holes, none of the characters are likeable. I couldn’t give a flying shit what happened to any of them. The second it showed Cal making his tea of powdered mash I’d lost complete respect for the character. He maybe a slob, but you don’t fuck around when you’re making mash! Even slobs know that.

The worst twist of them all is at the very end. It just comes from nowhere and is simply not needed. It’s as if Spielberg got his hands on it and did his usual of, “What this film needs guys is an extra chunk at the end that isn’t needed!”

One of the cheesiest bits of the film is when Cal notices that the guy who did the deed is wearing the same panther shirt he sees in a picture, and as the dramatic music plays, sounds of panthers growling are incorporated into it. No need.

I’m sure you’re all aware of the Orange ads that appear before films, telling people not to have their phones switched on. The main guy in these adverts is Brennen Brown, and as the ad came on Andrew said, “Do you think this guy will do anything else once they stop making these ads?”

About fifteen minutes into the film up pops Brennen Brown! Now, I mention this because in all of those Orange ads he’s meddling with scripts, trying to get them to incorporate as many phones as they can into the film. In State Of Play, there’s a LOT of phone action. It’s as if Brennen hasn’t been employed just to act for Orange, but to really meddle with the films he’s in! (Either that, or he’s a method actor who’s gotten confused with his identity and really believes he’s a head honcho at Orange).

The ending is the worst part of the film (you’d think that’d be the best, “thank Christ that’s over!”) as this is supposed to be the climax, the edge of your seat, slap-in-the-face ending. Instead we’re treated to a mediocre, bore of an ending that leaves you annoyed because you know you’ve just wasted nearly two and half hours of your life.

If you want to watch a good political thriller, I suggest you go back to when they were in their heyday, the seventies. Watch French Connection or as previously mentioned, All The Presidents Men, don’t waste your time with this.

It’d be harsh to label it as ‘abysmal’ as from a film making point of view, it wasn’t shoddy and the plot holes weren’t THAT bad, but it just didn’t go anywhere and there are many twists that are just not needed.

Luckily there was one guy in the audience who had no idea what was happening. He was so excited that he said aloud, “Ooo, what’s gonna happen now? Oh, it’s finished. Oh no! It’s not!” I’m glad he enjoyed it, because I didn’t.

Verdict: Missable