Well, we all loved the BBC mini-series State of Play, starring John Simm, David Morrissey, Bill Nighy, James McAvoy, Kelly Macdonald, Marc Warren and Philip Glenister (at least I hope we do. If we don't, we need to get it on DVD instantly). Now a Hollywood adaptation is on the way and is due to be released in US cinemas on April 17th.
Starring Russell Crowe (as John Simm), Ben Affleck (as David Morrissey), Helen Mirren (as Bill Nighy), Rachel McAdams (as Kelly Macdonald), Jason Bateman (as Marc Warren) and Harry Lennix (as Philip Glenister) it's got big budget US thriller all over it and not in a good way. Plus what's up with Russell's accent? Here's a trailer – see if you disagree with me. For comparison's sake, the trailer for the original mini-series is after it. You can also find photos from the movie at IMDB.
March 3, 2009 | Reply
Oh god. Where is the sense of humour? WHERE IS THE SENSE OF HUMOUR?
March 3, 2009 | Reply
"This is as big and as connected as they get" - I think the last line says it all.
March 3, 2009 | Reply
Ok, so now I'm going to fess up and say I missed this one too. See comment on Ultraviolet about the baby producing days. (yes, they did go on for a very long time in a very groundhoggian kind of way). So that's another series I need to catch up on then...
March 3, 2009 | Reply
I loved State of Play (UK) - so frankly my only way of enjoying the US film version will be to mentally make their version a completely separate entity rather than a remake.
March 3, 2009 | Reply
I saw State of Play on one of those video-sharing networks which has long been shut down. I was riveted in a way I haven't been by a television programme for years. I was so involved that my husband had to tap me on the shoulder and tell me I was swearing. (I was on the earphones at the computer monitor and my innocent children were nearby.) Looking at the cast for the American version, uh... I like Helen Mirren, but she's not a guarantee that something will be good. On the other hand, I quite like the American version of Life on Mars, mainly because it's so different from the original that comparisons don't really come into it. Maybe that's the way to approach it, in order to enjoy both.