State of Play Trailer Crowe McAdams Affleck

Wait, Another Remake? Now You’re Just Screwing With Me

I’ll Just Netflix the Original / Daniel Carlson

Trailers | February 18, 2009 | Comments (47)

As with many of the finer things in life — The Office, classic rock — the upcoming political thriller State of Play is remade from a British import. The plots are basically the same, but guess which one boasts a cast member who was the bomb in Phantoms?

The film follows a newspaper reporter (Russell Crowe) as he investigates the death of a young woman who was sleeping with a congressman (Ben Affleck) who just happens to be the reporter’s friend. The supporting cast includes Rachel McAdams, who makes me go weak in the knees, and Helen Mirren, who’s probably more than a little disappointed in the fact that her countrymen did this first. I just think it’s cute that Hollywood is willing to make a thriller involving a newspaper journalist; there can’t be more than seven of these films left before the medium eats itself. Also, interesting sidenote: The Crowe and Affleck roles were originally to be played by Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, respectively. I know. … I know. Anyway, here’s what we wound up with:

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Comments

I was doing okay with this until you mentioned Pitt and Norton. Then I realized how good this could have been, and my imaginary world came crashing down.

Posted by: Snath at February 18, 2009 10:04 AM

WTF? The day Ben Affleck gets one of Ed Norton's roles is the day I start voting republican. Good thing there are no elections today.

Posted by: Grenadine at February 18, 2009 10:06 AM

A thriller where journalistic bias plays a key plot point and is used as a threat?

This just bumped up from "I have no desire to ever see this" to "I won't change the channel if it comes on the TV, at least until the commercial."

Posted by: Robert at February 18, 2009 10:11 AM

Youse guys oughta just make these Remake Reports a regular, semi-daily feature... Oi.

Posted by: Rykker at February 18, 2009 10:12 AM

I would probably see it for Rachel McAdams. I have a big damn girlcrush on her.

Posted by: Gabs at February 18, 2009 10:13 AM

The original British miniseries is pretty fabulous, but I am concerned about the remake, A) because Americans screw British things up more often than not, and B) because the original miniseries plot was twisty and complicated so between taking it down to feature film length and dumbing it down for Americans, I am concerned that the plot could suffer.

Posted by: Caro at February 18, 2009 10:26 AM

Wait, are we calling Brad Pitt a good actor now? Where did all the Pitt love come from? Remember, boys and girls, for every Burn After Reading there are three Ocean movies.

Posted by: Nicole at February 18, 2009 10:27 AM

Wait, are we hating on Oceans 11 now?

No. That movie was awesome.

Posted by: twig at February 18, 2009 10:35 AM

I'd argue that the levels of suck displayed in 12 and 13 negated everything positive about 11. Except Bernie Mac. Nothing can negate the Mac.

Posted by: Nicole at February 18, 2009 10:39 AM

Wasn't there a movie (thriller, I would say) called "True Crime" that also involved a newspaper reporter? It was a Clint Eastwood movie (he also played the reporter); and as most Clint Eastwood movies go, was well-made and well-paced.

Posted by: EH at February 18, 2009 10:40 AM

Don't know if it makes him a GOOD actor but Pitt's been interesting to watch at least since "12 Monkeys." Except for marrying the Succubus, guy doesn't seem to take himself too seriously.

Posted by: bucdaddy at February 18, 2009 10:41 AM

I do wonder why nobody has capitalized on the Brad Pitt and Edward Norton dynamic since Fight Club.

Posted by: Lucas at February 18, 2009 10:44 AM

Wait ... are they actually married yet? Succubus = Jolie, not Aniston. Aniston = it'sbeenfiveyearsshutthefuckupalready.

Posted by: bucdaddy at February 18, 2009 10:44 AM

Shouldn't Eddie Vedder be in the studio or some shit?

Posted by: bucslim at February 18, 2009 10:46 AM

The cast for British mini-series was pretty intriguing, including Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald (and David Morrissey and John Simm for "Doctor Who" fans).

It never happens, but I always hope for some British slang to carry over into the American versions of shows and movies. There'd be no way to stop yourself from laughing at Affleck talking about jammy dodgers and gobshites.

Posted by: branded at February 18, 2009 10:51 AM

Link to trailer for the original version (new window)

Posted by: cockroach at February 18, 2009 10:51 AM

The original was a 3 part mini series on the bbc (I think) and was absolute edge of your seat, holy shit what the fuck, really that guy? brilliance. Rent it, rent it now if you've not seen it.

Posted by: catag at February 18, 2009 10:54 AM

Don't forget that the original British version had a very young, very green, but very, very lovely James McAvoy as Bill Nighy's son. (I believe. It's been a while.)

While my short attention span is pleased to have a shorter version of the story, I'm kind of bummed by this. Like. A lot.

Posted by: MoJo at February 18, 2009 10:54 AM

It looks like they mashed together every thriller movie in the genre, autoerotically asphyxiated it with Enemy of The State spanked it with The Paper and then gang fucked it with a CSI proceedural.

Sounds good.

Posted by: admin at February 18, 2009 11:08 AM

It looks like they mashed together every thriller movie in the genre, autoerotically asphyxiated it with Enemy of The State spanked it with The Paper and then gang fucked it with a CSI proceedural.

Who else is hot now?

Posted by: Clee Shay at February 18, 2009 11:19 AM

Just for the record, the miniseries is six parts. I watched it just a few months ago.

I don't have a problem with their compressing it into a two-hour movie. I think there was a lot of fat in terms of plot that could be streamlined; the miniseries took more of its time with the character development. The cast was great; I found the end to be slightly anticlimactic.

What does worry me in this trailer is that this looks a little glossier than the source material. I suppose that's to be expected.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at February 18, 2009 11:39 AM

Wait. I just looked up the cast for this and Jason Bateman is in it? Now I will have to go see it. Doesn't matter if he has 5 lines or 50 lines, he is always fabulous.

Posted by: riley at February 18, 2009 12:00 PM

I'll take a Norton over Afleck any day.... but Pitt is verrrrry inconsistent.

I think I'll take good ol' reliable Crowe for the shaggy journalist night over flip-floppy Pitt.

and isn't it funny how Rachel McAdams is the cute-not-yet-main-stream girl everybody has... and Helen Mirren is the classy gilf every woman wants to turn into in 30-40 years....

smart casting on the women's part for this movie.

Posted by: soto at February 18, 2009 12:04 PM

It was the Affleck in the Alley with the pistol.

CLUED YA BITCHES!

Posted by: Heather B! at February 18, 2009 12:04 PM

It was the Affleck, In the Alley, with the Pistol.

clued ya bitches!!!!

Posted by: Heather B! at February 18, 2009 12:06 PM

So, after reading everyone's comments I decided to add State of Play to my Netflix queue, when I logged in State of Play was on the front page being recommended to me. Oh, Netflix you know me so well.

A lot better than the soon to be ex-boyfriend, who went to an Evil Dead party and didn't think to include me because he thought I wouldn't like the movies. Did he not see that I own VHS and DVD copies of films? Does he not remember that I started watching Burn Notice just for Bruce Campbell?

Posted by: DoubleH at February 18, 2009 12:12 PM

The original was good, but even then I wasn't exactly thrilled with the story. Really, when you think about it you could cut some fat out of there, seeing as in the end...[Spoiler]Collins did it in the end anyway[/spoiler]

You basically could cut some wild goose chases, and get to that point. In any event, I'll be sad not to see Bill Nighy as my favorite character in the whole damn thing, but Helen Mirren isn't a bad substitute.

Posted by: Mike R. at February 18, 2009 12:17 PM

"Knock Knock."
"Who's there?"
Russell Crowe.
Wow. You have really let yourself go, man.

Posted by: firedmyass at February 18, 2009 12:19 PM

DoubleH, that is definately grounds for dismissal. And a sound thrashing. And Ex-lax in his coffee. And the slashing of tires. I should stop.

Posted by: admin at February 18, 2009 12:41 PM

Wait, are we hating on Oceans 11 now?

Oh I hope not, as Alan Shepard might say. I don't dislike 12, and 13 was fun...and it had Eddie Izzard!

Phooey on any Ocean's phooeying.

I saw this trailer before "Taken" and thought "investigative reporter thriller? You GO, Mister Man!" I was never suited to write hard news, but I support my J peeps. And I've got nothing against Russell and Ben when they've got a good movie.

Posted by: Jay at February 18, 2009 12:50 PM

Gotta agree on the Rachel weak-knees thing...

Posted by: Protoguy at February 18, 2009 12:55 PM

I thought it might be decent with Pitt and Norton, now I'm just all meh about it.
No Bill Nighy or Kelly Macdonald or John Simm or James McAvoy or whoever played Dominick Foy (brilliant turn).
Seriously, the only reason to even rent it is to see how much it has been fucked up...well, that and Helen Mirren being in it will force me to add it to the Netflix queue.

Posted by: Jules at February 18, 2009 1:08 PM

Jay, love, Izzard is outstanding and I adore him but he was also in My Super Ex Girlfriend. The man is no Statham - he can't make everything better.

Posted by: Nicole at February 18, 2009 1:14 PM

I saw this trailer a few weeks ago, and being a brit and having seen the original, i can honestly say that they have missed the point entirely. massively. hugely.

Just...just.....*sniff* im gonna go and watch the original and pretend THIS doesn't exist

Posted by: nadine at February 18, 2009 1:23 PM

The man is no Statham

Thank fuck for that!

Posted by: Jay at February 18, 2009 2:18 PM

The BBC original is amazing and the cast here is to die for (seriously: Jeff Daniels, Jason Bateman, and Robin Wright Penn in SMALLER roles?), so I'll be there, though the trailer leaves a bit to be desired.

Posted by: whatBENwatches at February 18, 2009 2:43 PM

Real MA-TURE, Heather B!

Rilly.

Posted by: replica at February 18, 2009 3:35 PM

Dammit, I don't NEED to get addicted to any more British TV shows. STOPPIT NOW.

Posted by: dsbs at February 18, 2009 4:42 PM

Here's a thriller we need: "Enemy of the Statham."

Posted by: bucdaddy at February 18, 2009 4:47 PM

bucdaddy, I just came.

Posted by: admin at February 18, 2009 10:14 PM

I'm just happy that Tammy Littlenut got work. Well, her name is really Maria Thayer, but she'll always be Tamala to me.

She was also really, really funny in 30 Rock lately, playing the blind chick. I'm glad she's getting regular work -- she's pretty awesome.

Posted by: linny at February 18, 2009 11:51 PM

Eh.

The original was just fantastic, and the British cast was better than this one. Crowe can eat me, okay?

I LOVE Nighy. And screw bland McAdams - star of the upcoming and not enthusiastically screened The Time Traveler's Wife, which should fit right in with how bland she was in Married Life and The Lucky Ones. You know who is absofuckinglutely amazing? Kelly Macdonald. Who, personally, is my choice for the upcoming Wuthering Heights remake, not that cow Sienna Miller.

Isn't it just the tiniest bit suspicious that the two intriguing members of the main cast pulled out?

Posted by: sara at February 19, 2009 5:01 AM

Really?? I'd put MacDonald in Jane Eyre before I'd see her in Wuthering Heights. I fucking hated Catherine for doing what she did to Heathcliff, so she can be played by Sienna Miller for all I care.

Who's playing Heathcliff, btw? To me there will never be another as good as Fiennes, but then I was pretty young and impressionable when I saw that version.

Posted by: Stella at February 19, 2009 5:23 PM

Stella: if you like Wuthering Heights did you see the new BBC adaptation? Completely devastating. Nearly as good as the Jane Eyre with Ruth Wilson. Those brits know how to make some damn fine TV.

State of Play: America, Fuck Yeah! does not get my viewing time. If there is no sexy scene with John Simm I have no need of it. Bill Nighy, where are you when I need you??

Posted by: Clarence Boddicker at February 19, 2009 7:04 PM

I think I fall in love with him. It is said he is interested in da*ting pretty models at a celebrity site --Richromances.com--. I will become a member soon!

Posted by: lawrence at February 20, 2009 12:00 AM

Why, oh why, do we have to keep remaking perfectly good British things? Too often they are abominations (The Office being the exception to this particular rule of thumb.)

Kath & Kim anyone? If you'll excuse me, I'll be out back losing my dinner over the mere thought of that, and praying the American Top Gear never comes to pass.

Posted by: kelly grrl at February 22, 2009 1:24 AM

I like Russell Crowe (who is a better actor than Brad Pitt by about a thousandfold) and Rachel McAdams, but my main reason for seeing this film is HELEN MIRREN.

She is "all that" and a diamond ring - talent, class, charisma AND sex appeal.

Posted by: James Burns at March 4, 2009 9:55 PM

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