Distributor:
Roadshow Home Entertainment Certificate: M15+ | 330 minutes Available to buy Extras: Yes
ANYONE
IN IT WE KNOW?
David
Morrissey, John Simm, Bill Nighy, Kelly MacDonald,
WHAT’S
IT ABOUT THEN?
Absolutely
stunning, State of Play is to
the naughties what Edge of
Darkness was to the 1980's - the
conspiracy thriller series du
jour, brilliant acted and
superbly written the serial
journeys into the dark heart
where the media and the UK
political scene are wary
bedfellows and isn't happy with
what it finds.
Stephen
Collins (Morrissey) is a high-flying, ambitious member of parliament and
Chairman of the Government’s Energy Select Committee. Cal McCaffrey (Simm)
is a well-respected investigative journalist and Stephen’s ex-campaign
manager. When Stephen’s young research assistant, Sonia, falls to her
death on the London Underground, it’s not long before revelations of
their affair hit the headlines. Meanwhile a suspected teenage drug
dealer named Kelvin Stagg is found shot dead.The discovery that Kelvin
and Sonia shared a two-minute phone call on the morning of their deaths
draws Cal into an investigation that’s always one step ahead of the
police. But friendships are tested and lives are put on the line as an
intricate web of lies unfolds.
The two
pivotal roles are those of Stephen Collins and journo Cal McCaffrey of
course and as usual Morrissey (who is easily one of the best actors in
the world full stop) and the equally good John Simm are superb,
Morrissey disintegrating before our eyes and Simm's McCaffrey seeming to
get scruffier as the serial progresses.
Its
a real ensemble piece though as (like the Magnificent Seven) key players
are recruited to the journalist cause, Bill Nighy is a legend and his
role as editor Cameron Foster adds a much need level of light
heartedness to proceedings, equally good is gorgeous voiced Kelly
MacDonald as fellow journo Della, special mention must go to Marc Warren
(who is proving himself to be a more than capable talent) as businessman
Dominic Foy who is unable to control events that are happening around
him. Seriously good and not to be missed, State of Play is British TV at
its best.
ANY
SPECIAL FEATURES?
Audio
commentary on episodes 1 and 6 by writer Paul Abbott and director David
Yates as well as producer Hilary Bevan Jones and editor Mark Day.
