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This film seems to be a regular political thriller. Russell Crowe is a journalist trying to find out the truth, with a few tricks up his sleeves. Ben Affleck is a politician who the murdered girl worked for, maybe he's involved, maybe he's not? Helen Mirran is the newspaper editor asking, "I want to know everything that we can about her. Who she knew, who she blew, the color of her knickers." WHOAA!! Wait a minute?! Did Helen Mirran just say "who she "blew" in this trailer?! I just played it again, yup! WOW!! What demographic are you trying to snare with that?
And the rest of the trailer goes on as an absolute dicotamy, half of it trying to be an intense thought provoking political thriller and the other half trying to be an action movie that drags me to the edge of my seat. Get on the same page marketing people! Or make two different trailers. That's why one "I Love You, Man" seems to be about this gross-out bromance and one is about a guy refalling in love with his fiance.
Back to State of Play. Crowe uses investigative journalism to delve deep inside conspiracies to expose the truth, but guess what? He's got 8 HOURS TO DO IT IN! Why?? Can't we wait to send this to press until we have have the whole story? Take your time and get it right, now THAT'S good journalism. Okay, so we have a time limit. Time to start chasing people down streets, sneaking a look at evidence and Russell Crowe asking, who might have wanted her dead? WHAT?! I'm no long time professional investigative journalist, but that kinda seems like the first question you ask. I've seen procedurals. First things first, if the dead person had enemies, you go talk to them. Get it together Russell Crowe!
Next up, Helen Mirran finally stops rambling about bj's and does some good internet research. She scrolls and finds a company! A BAD company! Where money's involved! A clue perhaps? Ben Affleck says, she(the dead girl) had access to everything they(the bad company) were doing and I believed they killed her for it. Hmm...seems like a bit more than a clue. Seems like that's the answer. It was just someone at a major corporation getting someone out of the way to make money. That's pretty much it. So, I stopped watching the trailer.
Then, while eating dinner I started wondering...what if I'm wrong? As I changed into pajamas I asked myself...what if that's what Ben Affleck wants me to think? As I lay in bed, I thought...I bet this conspiracy goes deeper than I ever imagined! I bet Helen Mirran is involved, why else would she be so crude?! I bet it's time for someone to break some rules! I jumped out of bed and watched the last 48 seconds of the trailer. In it, Russell Crowe decides not to break the law and instead do "damn fine reporting". He finds out that this company destroys people who get in their way and tells Ben Affleck, "she was risking her life for you!" Ben responds, "If you walk away, they win." So it was some faceless corporate douche killed her for money. Just like I thought. Damn it! I totally could be asleep by now!
Comments (3)
State of Play is a blistering thriller, chock full of great stars and great acting (save one conspicuous exception - cough cough Affleck - ahem).
BUT this movie has a use-by date. See it before all the newspapers go under and the story loses its relevancy!!
1 of 3 | Posted by Donna Martin Graduates! | Posted on March 26, 2009 11:25 AM
DMG-
It's your old friend sutter kane, back to check out what's been happening with site and thank god i did- because someone has to leap to poor ben affleck's defense!
after robert downey jr, this guy is a study in how to execute a comeback. Now- to be fair- i haven't seen SOP yet, but I've seen the guy on politically incorrect, and i think he could could legitimately run for congress in ten years; there's no way he can't be at least credible playing a congressman.
and tell me you weren't at least a little impressed with gone, baby, gone! The guy's got directing chops, a good performance in hollywoodland, and what looks like a great supporting turn in mike judge's extract just around the corner. Ben needs your support- remember good will hunting? changing lanes? boiler room? he can be good, and we movie nuts have to support people that at least have the potential.
Not like paul walker...
2 of 3 | Posted by sutterkane | Posted on April 13, 2009 7:36 PM
oh - and nice work, 4theluvofHam. There's definitely an art to a great trailer, and you've got an eye for it, my friend.
3 of 3 | Posted by sutterkane | Posted on April 13, 2009 7:38 PM