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I went to the cinema today to watch the remake of the British TV series "State of Play". I watched the TV series on DVD about a year ago and really liked it, so I was curious about the remake. It was a fairly good movie, but the biggest problem is that the TV series is superior (or equal) in almost every respect. The basic plot is pretty much identical (although they've added a minor new element in having a subplot about the rivalry between 'traditional' and online journalists), but since the TV series has more running time it does go into more depth on most plot points. The movie focuses more on journalist Cal McAffrey (John Simm/Russell Crowe) than on politician Stephen Collins (David Morrissey/Ben Affleck) with the result that Collins' plotline feels a bit underdone in place. Also comparatively rushed is the ending, there's not really anything wrong with the film ending but I think it works better in the TV series.
Ironically, for a movie with plenty of good acting and two Oscar-winners in leading roles in Crowe and Mirren the acting is another area where the TV series is superior. Crowe is good, but it's not really up there with his very best performances (The Insider or LA Confidential, say) and I think Simm is better in this role. It is probably Ben Affleck's best acting performance in a long time (he is well suited for the role) but I thought David Morrissey in the TV series was equally good. Helen Mirren is good as the newspaper editor, but Bill Nighy was superb in the same role, stealing every scene he was in. The series also wins on the supporting acting which is fine in the film but the likes of Marc Warren, Philip Glenister and James McAvoy were better in the TV series.
In summary, I'd say it was a good movie but a slightly pointless one since as a remake it doesn't really add anything to the story and despite being well-made it is definitely inferior to the series.
One slightly distracting thing in the film was that one character (a congressman's aide) was played by the same actor who plays the lead character in all those Orange Cinema adverts where his film funding board tries to insert inane mobile phone product placement into assorted celebrity's film pitches. After seeing him doing the spoof adverts before just about every film I've seen in the cinema for the last five years it is now difficult to see him in a serious role.
This weekend I was also planning to see Let The Right One In at some point, since it has been getting some great reviews. There was a trailer for it before State of Play which also made it look good, but I can't go to see it since despite them still showing the trailer for it, it isn't being shown at any Cambridge cinemas this week - it seems they only showed it for one week.
Ironically, for a movie with plenty of good acting and two Oscar-winners in leading roles in Crowe and Mirren the acting is another area where the TV series is superior. Crowe is good, but it's not really up there with his very best performances (The Insider or LA Confidential, say) and I think Simm is better in this role. It is probably Ben Affleck's best acting performance in a long time (he is well suited for the role) but I thought David Morrissey in the TV series was equally good. Helen Mirren is good as the newspaper editor, but Bill Nighy was superb in the same role, stealing every scene he was in. The series also wins on the supporting acting which is fine in the film but the likes of Marc Warren, Philip Glenister and James McAvoy were better in the TV series.
In summary, I'd say it was a good movie but a slightly pointless one since as a remake it doesn't really add anything to the story and despite being well-made it is definitely inferior to the series.
One slightly distracting thing in the film was that one character (a congressman's aide) was played by the same actor who plays the lead character in all those Orange Cinema adverts where his film funding board tries to insert inane mobile phone product placement into assorted celebrity's film pitches. After seeing him doing the spoof adverts before just about every film I've seen in the cinema for the last five years it is now difficult to see him in a serious role.
This weekend I was also planning to see Let The Right One In at some point, since it has been getting some great reviews. There was a trailer for it before State of Play which also made it look good, but I can't go to see it since despite them still showing the trailer for it, it isn't being shown at any Cambridge cinemas this week - it seems they only showed it for one week.
