Play Preview When his mistress is found dead, Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) tries desperately to protect his name and career. As journalists Cal (Russell Crowe) and Della (Rachel McAdams) investigate further, they uncover an intricate web of lies that stretches to the highest levels of power. Based on the critically acclaimed BBC miniseries, this intriguing political thriller co-stars Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman.
There are two version of “State of Play”. In 2003 British TV produced a multi-part TV series version that was amazing. It is available thru NetFlix. The 2009 Hollywood version is a two-hour version re-written in large part to take place in the U.S.A. and involve congressmen instead of members of parliament. Both are worth seeing but each is a very different experience. Congratulations to Hollywood for producing a conspiracy plot that is easy to follow. Needless to say the much longer British version offers a lot more detail. Kathy and I enjoyed the British version awhile back and I am glad that sufficient time separated the two viewings. Quite frankly, don’t miss either version.
Play Preview Julia Roberts and Clive Owen co-star in this curveball-throwing thriller as a pair of romantically involved corporate operatives who are entangled in a bitter rivalry between two mammoth pharmaceutical companies. Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson convincingly round out the heavyweight cast as warring big pharma CEOs in this intriguing espionage effort from writer-director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton).
From the viewpoint of plot, I found this film very complicated. Nonetheless, even if you miss some details, you can still enjoy all the twists, especially the very end of the film. Pay attention to the fight occuring in the very start of the film. Then at the end of the film try and recall that fight because at that point the fight makes sense.
Paul Giamatti has found (fallen into ?) a niche as a demoniacal plotter (see Shoot Em’ Up, my favorite Clive Owen flm).
For me the major attraction was hopefully the interaction between Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Whereas Clive Owen was his usual forceful bad-boy self, Julia Roberts’ delivery seemed a bit flat. Give this film at most a B.
