PDA

View Full Version : BBC's Great "State of Play"


headscratcher4
14th March 2008, 08:07 AM
Just finished re-watching the BBC's great TV mini-series State of Play. IT is a fantastic political thriller, well acted, tight script, facinating and current. Paul Abbot wrote a terrific screen play.

They are making an American version staring Helen Mirran, Russel Crowe and Ben Aflick.

It is hard to see how it translates to U.S. politics. All of which begs the question: whey can't there be a great U.S. political thriller? Yes, Seven Days in May or the Manchurian Candidate come close, but ultimately, it seems to be hard to do a good political thriller in a U.S. context.

Are the Brits better informed about their own system and how government works? Is it the quality of the acting that does it?

Anyway, are there any great American politcial thrillers? Why not?

Magenta
20th March 2008, 03:25 AM
Just finished re-watching the BBC's great TV mini-series State of Play. IT is a fantastic political thriller, well acted, tight script, facinating and current. Paul Abbot wrote a terrific screen play.


Yes, I thought it was excellent and have watched it a couple of times.


Is it the quality of the acting that does it?


They do have Bill Nighy. :)

headscratcher4
20th March 2008, 08:17 AM
Bill Nighy alone is worth the purchase price...also, I think it is one of the first movies that really makes use of James MacAvoy...a great part, almost as much fun as his characther in Shameless. Also, they've got the pace down with little relience on shoot-outs or car chases.

christie malry
23rd March 2008, 08:31 AM
Just got it for my birthday - can't wait to watch it again! Of course it's greatness is at least partly due to the presence of The Master! :)