Much as I like this poster, I need you not to see the film without first watching the original tv series. It’s for your own good, trust me.
David Yates directed the six part thriller for the BBC back in 2003, from a script by the legendary Paul Abbott, the writer of Cracker, Shameless and Clocking Off. Abbott’s dark, acerbic style, informed by his own troubled upbringing, makes him one of our best writers. The dialogue in the original State of Play crackles and spits, whether taking place at a bus stop or inside the Houses of Parliament. The story – which involves a politician, his dead lover, a journalist and some very dodgy blackmailing in the corridors of power – is enacted by an ensemble of the classiest British actors, including John Simm, David Morrissey, Bill Nighy, Philip Glenister, a young James McAvoy and Kelly Macdonald.
Fast-forward six years and the inevitable Hollywood adaptation is soon to be released, starring Russell Crowe.
Sadly it looks about 34 per cent as good as the series, judging from the trailer. My concerns were initially raised after Brad Pitt dropped out of the production due to script concerns. My other immediate worry is the dire state of Russell Crowe’s hair. All in all, it just seems very unlikely that the film will come close to the dramatic integrity of the original. For one thing, the movie can only be around 120 minutes, whereas the series consisted of six glorious hanging-off-the-edge-of-your-seat hour-long episodes.
Take a look at the trailer, and then do yourself a favour and get the series out on DVD.
State of Play is released in UK cinemas on April 24.
Not only Brad Pitt dropped out but then also Ed Norton apparently… There is now way it’ll be as good as the original, or indeed as good as its original line up would have been!
I whole heartedly agree with the filtnib vis a vis the tv series. I am yet to have been as gripped as I was throughout every second of every episode of it. It was a joy to the ol’ ear ‘oles, rods ‘n’ cones and all that. Filtnib is clearly on the ball.
[...] times it’s hard not to compare The Killing to the BBC’s State of Play, another gripping TV series that begins with a tragedy involving a young woman, but which is more [...]