STATE OF PLAY

STATE OF PLAY (Universal Pictures)
Directed by Kevin MacDonald

Politics in Hollywood are more prevalent than people realize and I’m not just talking about when an actor that should have won doesn’t at the Oscars, in favor of someone else that fits into some political agenda. The politics I am speaking of cover what our country is or isn’t doing at home or abroad. Yes, the things no one really wants to talk about or think of, because when you do, it becomes too real to handle, right? I know for many people this is the case, which is why they will look the other way when any film centering on some political conspiracy that rips at the heart of our governments’ right of path, gets released. But, whether these stories come from books or otherwise, these theories are typically based on researched facts, right or wrong. And at least where I come from, if you throw enough exaggerated truths at the wall, eventually a few of them will stick. That in itself is why films like STATE OF PLAY get written and released to the big screen. It’s not because the producer or director has some “political agenda;” it’s because what they do have is one very legitimate story worth watching and maybe even learning from. That’s not to say films like STATE OF PLAY are meant to teach, but if I can enjoy a good political thriller and learn something new, that’s all the better. Bottom line is, I am there to be entertained, and this film does just that, plus some.

It’s a good thing governments aren’t perfect, or we would never see stories like the one here scratch the surface. Adapted from the very popular BBC miniseries in 2003, the story follows a congressman by the name of Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck), who among other things, is an up-an-coming voice for his party and one they saw fit to be chairman for a committee on defense spending. But, right when Collins was hitting his stride, he found out one of his assistants, one in which he had been having an affair with, had been killed. Next thing he knew, he was hit with a firestorm of allegations and media attention, which was anything but warranted at the time. Nevertheless, Collins sought out one of his only friends for help, an old college buddy, now Washington Globe writer, by the name of Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe), who ironically was the investigative reporter assigned to work on this controversy surrounding the death of Collins’ assistant. But, as McAffrey got closer and closer to finding out who was behind all this, the plot deepened and spiraled out of control, as this was not your ordinary government cover-up when it was all said and done.

When you start to breakdown the cast in STATE OF PLAY, it truly becomes a “who’s who” as so many quality actors are involved. It starts with Russell Crowe, who in my mind can make any role scream, but here found comfort in his subtle role as Cal McAffrey. And the funny thing is, Brad Pitt was slated to play the same exact role, before dropping out days before production was due to begin. Not sure why that was, but I for sure didn’t mind as Crowe had no issues fitting into the role and once again showing his endless range as an actor. And whether or not he got word of the role the same time of Pitt dropping out, for him to step in and do this good of a job is a testament to what he’s about and why he is among the best of our generation. Equaling that sentiment were several other players like Jeff Daniels, Rachel McAdams and Helen Mirren, who all fit right into the mix without disruption. And that’s important, because sometimes when you get a list of actors like this together for a movie, it doesn’t always pan out. Here it did and each time any one of them stepped into the scene, they left an impression, which is all you can ask for from supporting roles.

We even had a Robin Wright Penn sighting, which is rare these days and frankly, I wish there was more of her, as it was almost a waste to only have her in a few scenes, playing the wife of Ben Affleck’s Stephen Collins. And speaking of Affleck, wow, this might be the return of the man that was set to turn Hollywood upside down some eight years ago after his breakthrough performance in PEARL HARBOR. I think we all know the story of why this hasn’t happened for Ben, but he was truly a breath of fresh air here, commanding the screen each time he entered, which was impressive considering all the talent around him. That being said, the one man that stole the show in spots, with extremely limited screen time was Jason Bateman. This guy is like a fine wine, as he just gets better and better as time moves on and here he was absolutely brilliant. Sure, it was a small role and one that was limited, but Bateman gets it and for some reason is just so comfortable in these supporting roles. Maybe that’s his niche, but either way, I love seeing him pop in and out of films like this, as he just has a way of making you laugh and feel comfortable all at the same time.

Say what you want about political thrillers, but to me, they are some of the best stories to watch, as they will find a way to tickle something within you, good or bad. Directed by Kevin MacDonald, STATE OF PLAY might look like just another version of some other political thriller from the past, but it’s not in my mind. In fact, given the underlying storyline involving government spending and privately-owned defense organizations, I think its spot on with a lot of its content. Plus, to then highlight the current state of print journalism, for better or worse was great, as we have all witnessed the slow, yet sloppy migration of news from paper to the internet. That being said, Macdonald respected the business that was at the center of this story, often cutting to classic shots of what is your typical media floor at any paper, yet showing the power journalists have to spin the truth into a story, no matter if it’s right or wrong. A scary fact for many, I’m sure, but one I was glad to see in a film based around government cover-ups and wrongdoings. How true or not this story is may be up for interpretation, but the right direction was there and overall, I couldn’t find much to be unhappy with.

I guess even a new regime in Washington D.C. can’t change how quickly a film comes and goes, when the topic is based on or around some potential government cover-up or controversy. STATE OF PLAY proves there are still some stories worth telling, and with a cast like this, it would be a shame to pass up this political thriller, as it keeps you involved from start to finish in a way you couldn’t have imagined.

B

I LOVE YOU, MAN

I LOVE YOU, MAN (DreamWorks)
Written and directed by John Hamburg

I guess it could be worse. Last year this time we were in the mitts of one of the biggest box office slumps Hollywood has seen in recent memory. Of course, it all depends on what you view as a slump, but for me, when films like DOOMSDAY get released for no good reason like it did last year, we might be in a slump. That means, there’s nothing better to throw out there and the funny thing is, this happens almost every year leading up to the late April, early May blockbuster push. Its then and only then that I see the year officially beginning, so maybe most producers use this same notion, choosing to wait a few more weeks to release their film. Rarely do we see a gem or sleeper come out this time of year and if we do, I doubt five people you know ever heard of it. That’s the reality of it and reason why it’s so hard to get excited about anything in theaters right now, especially when it was just two months ago that we were in the middle of one of the best Oscar season’s in recent memory. I call it a post-Oscar hangover and until I see something truly worthwhile, I won’t waste a lot of time on what is out in theaters currently. Sure, WATCHMEN is great and all, but it came out too early in the year and not enough people went to see it, leaving it to waste away with any other garbage that is being thrown around at the box office these days. And that’s too bad, as it was truly a unique and very powerful experience on the big screen. Nevertheless, with several weeks to go before anything really worthwhile is released, it’s nice to see a comedy like I LOVE YOU, MAN come out, as it makes a strong case for being quite entertaining in this all too often ‘down’ time of year.

The story in I LOVE YOU, MAN is simple, but it’s a comedy, so that actually is a good thing. Last thing any comedy needs is a story that makes you think and luckily with the one here, there’s no time to in between all the well-timed humor. And all of it centers on Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd), a blue-collar real estate agent who has everything going for him. Peter had the great job, the great home and an even greater fiancée, but something was missing. And with only weeks before the wedding, that something was proving to be quite the missing link, friends. That’s right, somehow Peter has made it this far in his life without a core group of friends and until now, never really gave it much thought. So, the race began to find come friends and hopefully find one of them worthy enough to be his best man at his wedding. And after a string of unsuccessful so-called ‘man dates,’ Sydney Fife (Jason Segel) stumbled into one of Peter’s open houses. At first, there didn’t seem to be anything too promising, especially after Peter found out why Sydney was even there, but something intrigued Peter and a short time later, the two hooked up and started “hanging.” Next thing you know, they were jamming to Rush in Sydney’s “man-den” and meeting up for lunch at the beach. Things were going so well that Peter asked Sydney to be his best man, but after days and days of endless “guy time”, Peter’s fiancée Zooey (Rashida Jones) started to grow jealous. And the fallout would not only send this once happy ending into a tailspin, but threaten the very core of Peter and Zooey’s love, ultimately leading to a predictable, yet heartfelt conclusion full of laughs.

On the surface, the cast here is about as recognizable as one found in your local off-Broadway series show. Sure, many will know Paul Rudd, but won’t remember from where and when they are finally given a couple obvious hints, they still might have to think about it. Sure, he’s been in a couple of the better comedies the past several years like THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN and KNOCKED UP, but for the most part, his roles never stand out as this one in I LOVE YOU, MAN did. In fact, the last time I saw Rudd with this much screen time was in the film that put him on the map, CLUELESS. That’s right, the film many guys won’t admit they like and the film many girls won’t be able to turn off, if it comes on TBS one afternoon. Rudd was great in that film, but given its premise, a role I guess didn’t propel him into any sort of stardom. So, some 13 years later we find him again in a comedy, but this time it’s all his and at least to me, you couldn’t have found a better role for this undervalued actor. Rudd has this way about him that I doubt anyone else but him could pull off. And that’s this certain quirky humor and body movement, where you can’t help but laugh and be a little uncomfortable watching. It reminds me of pretty much any episode of THE OFFICE, where the moments are so uncomfortable to endure and yet, you can’t take your eyes off the screen. That’s Rudd here and the supporting cast played off it so well, that it made each moment of humor that much better.

Supporters like Jason Segel , who some might have seen in FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, while others like me know him well from the hit TV show HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER. This guy is good and he and Rudd provide for some truly funny scenes that include some of the best catch phrases. Adding to Segel was a host of other fine acts like Rashida Jones (THE OFFICE), Jamie Pressly (MY NAME IS EARL), Andy Samberg (SNL) and even J.K. Simmons (JUNO); all who fit in quite nicely to the story and was just the right mix to Segel and Rudd. Having said that, possibly the one guy who won’t be mentioned, but should, is Jon Favreau, who made his presence known in each and every short moment he popped onto screen for.

When it comes to comedies, its hard to judge what truly is funny or not, since so many of us have different taste in humor. But, I would think I LOVE YOU, MAN falls under the umbrella for everyone, as it moves from one hilarious moment to the next, thanks to the crafty direction and will of John Hamburg, who also helped write the script. The end result is a comedy better than expected and one you can feel good about referring other people too.


B+