More preview clips of State of Play are now available:

I’m suprised by the great interaction between Russel Crowe and Ben Affleck on screen: I didn’t expect those two to get along so well, I was thinking there would be some ego competition, but it looks to be quite smooth, and it’s easy to get into the story actually.

More clips of State of Play: Continue reading »

A preview clip of State of Play, upcoming thriller movie starring Russel Crowe and Ben Affleck, has shown up:

The job of journalist is largely overrated in movies… The only journalist I can stand is Peter Parker aka Spiderman!
;-P

Ben Affleck and Russell Crowe are starring in State of Play, an upcoming dramatic crime thriller movie directed by Kevin Macdonald. The story revolves around a journalist (Russel Crowe) who unveils a conspiracy while investigating the murder of the mistress of a congressman (Ben Affleck). Here below a new international trailer of State of Play:

This new State of Play trailer gives a more appealing overview of the movie. I especially like the scene showing both Crowe and Affleck: they are like an old dude and a young wolf.

State of Play hits theaters on on April 17, 2009.
:)

I don’t give a dam about the Oscars. But I found a compelling reason for talking about it: at the end of the show a montage of footage from various upcoming movies was aired! Thanks to Firstshowing we may enjoy below the end credits of the Oscars:

More details about the movies seen in the video:

SHERLOCK HOLMES Directed by: Guy Ritchie Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams Release date: December 25, 2009 Plot: Detective Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) and his stalwart partner Watson (Law) engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England. More –> Sherlock Holmes Movie

FUNNY PEOPLE Directed by: Judd Apatow Starring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, RZA, Aubrey Plaza, Maude Apatow, Iris Apatow Release date: July 31, 2009 Plot: “When seasoned comedian George Simmons learns of his terminal, inoperable health condition, his desire to form a genuine friendship cause him to take a relatively green performer under his wing as his opening act.”

THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3 Directed by: Tony Scott Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, Michael Rispoli, James Gandolfini Release date: June 12, 2009 Plot: “In The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Denzel Washington stars as New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber, whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. John Travolta stars as Ryder, the criminal mastermind who, as leader of a highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the train’s passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there’s one riddle Garber can’t solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape?”

PUBLIC ENEMIES Directed by: Michael Mann Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Giovanni Ribisi, Billy Crudup, Stephen Dorff, Rory Cochrane, Stephen Lang, David Wenham, Stephen Graham, Channing Tatum, Jason Clarke Release date: July 1, 2009 Plot: “The Feds try to take down notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd during a booming crime wave in the 1930s.” More –> Public Enemies Movie

JULIE AND JULIA Directed by: Nora Ephron Starring: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, Linda Emond Release date: August 7, 2009 Plot: “Julie Powell recounts how she conquered every recipe in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking and saved her soul. Julie Powell is 30-years-old, living in a rundown apartment in Queens and working at a soul-sucking secretarial job that’s going nowhere. She needs something to break the monotony of her life, and she invents a deranged assignment. She will take her mother’s dog-eared copy of Julia Child’s 1961 classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and she will cook all 524 recipes. In the span of one year.”

PIXAR’s UP Directed by: Pete Docter and Bob Peterson Starring: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Jordan Nagai Release date: May 29, 2009 Plot: “The story of Up follows Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner) who spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But one day, Carl finds himself to be 78-years old and his life has seemingly passed him by, until he befriends a chubby 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. The two opposites match up for thrilling adventures as they encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains, and all the terrifying creatures that wait in the jungle.” More –> UP Movie

THE SOLOIST Directed by: Joe Wright Starring: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander, Lisa Gay Hamilton Release date: April 24, 2009 Plot: “A Los Angeles Journalist, befriends a homeless Julliard trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper.”

FAME Directed by: Kevin Tancharoen Starring: Debbie Allen, Charles S. Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Bebe Neuwirth, Thomas Dekker, Kristy Flores, Paul Iacono, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennie, Walter Perez, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Asher Book Release date: September 25, 2009 Plot: “An updated version of the 1980 musical, which centered on the students of the New York Academy of Performing Arts.”

TERMINATOR SALVATION Directed by: McG Starring: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Bryce Dallas Howard, Moon Bloodgood, Common, Jadagrace, Helena Bonham Carter Release date: May 21, 2009 Plot: “After Skynet has destroyed much of humanity in a nuclear holocaust, a group of survivors led by John Connor (Bale) struggles to keep the machines from finishing the job.” More –> Terminator 4 Movie

500 DAYS OF SUMMER Directed by: Marc Webb Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Clark Gregg, Minka Kelly, Rachel Boston, Matthew Gray Gubler, Chloe Moretz Release date: July 17, 2009 Plot: “Romantic comedy which centers on a man (Gordon-Levitt) who falls hopelessly in love with a woman (Deschanel) who doesn’t believe in love.”

AMELIA Directed by: Mira Nair Starring: Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Virginia Madsen, Christopher Eccleston, Mia Wasikowska Release date: October 23, 2009 Plot: “A look at the life of legendary American pilot Amelia Earhart, who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 in an attempt to make a flight around the world.”

WHATEVER WORKS Directed by: Woody Allen Starring: Larry David, Patricia Clarkson, Evan Rachel Wood Release date: TBA 2009 Plot: “Whatever Works revolves around an eccentric man (Larry David) taken into a series of adventures and encounters with his friends from Greenwich, a young woman from the South (Evan Rachel Wood), and her parents.” More –> Whatever Works Movie

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS Directed by: Quentin Tarantino Starring: Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Bruhl, Eli Roth, Samm Levine, B. J. Novak, Til Schweiger, Samuel L. Jackson, Mike Myers Release date: August 21, 2009 Plot: “Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted acts of retribution. Known to their enemy as “The Basterds,” Raine’s squad joins German actress and undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich.” More –> Inglourious Basterds Movie

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN Directed by: Shawn Levy Starring: Ben Stiller, Dick Van Dyke, Robin Williams, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Ricky Gervais Release date: May 22, 2009 Plot: “Security guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) infiltrates the Smithsonian Institute in order to rescue Jedediah (Owen Wilson) and Octavius (Steve Coogan), who have been shipped to the museum by mistake.” More –> Night at the Museum 2 Movie

MONSTERS VS. ALIENS Directed by: Conrad Vernon and Rob Letterman Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Rainn Wilson, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Colbert Release date: March 27, 2009 Plot: “When a meteorite from outer space hits a young girl and turns her into a giant monster, she is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years.” More –> Monsters vs Aliens Movie

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE Directed by: David Yates Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon Release date: July 17, 2009 Plot: “Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching” More –> Harry Potter 6 Movie

ANGELS AND DEMONS Directed by: Ron Howard Starring: Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer and Ewan McGregor Release date: May 15, 2009 Plot: “Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon works to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican.” More –> Angels and Demons Movie

OLD DOGS Directed by: Walt Becker Starring: John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston, Seth Green, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin, Matt Dillon Release date: November 25, 2009 Plot: “Two best friends—one unlucky-in-love divorcee (Robin Williams) and the other a fun-loving bachelor (John Travolta)—have their lives turned upside down when they’re unexpectedly charged with the care of six-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their lives. The not-so kidsavvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of the twins (newcomers Ella Blue Travolta and Conner Rayburn), leading to one debacle after another, and perhaps to a new-found understanding of what’s really important in life.”

ICE AGE DAWN OF TEH DINOSAURS Directed by: Carlos Saldanha Starring: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah Release date: July 1, 2009 Plot: “Our friends are trapped in a strange underground world! Guess what Scrat the squirrel is gonna have a girlfriend! But there could be an issue between the two lovers: Scrat’s precious acorn.” More –> Ice Age 3 Movie

THE BOAT THAT ROCKED Directed by: Richard Curtis Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Sturridge, Jack Davenport, Ralph Brown, Chris O’Dowd, January Jones Release date: April 3, 2009 Plot: “A period comedy about an illegal radio station in the North Sea in the 1960’s.”

AN EDUCATION Directed by: Lone Scherfig Starring: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Olivia Williams, Emma Thompson, Cara Seymour, Matthew Beard, Sally Hawkins Release date: TBA 2009 Plot: “A coming-of-age story about a teenage girl in 1960s suburban London, and how her life changes with the arrival of a playboy nearly twice her age.”

STATE OF PLAY Directed by: Kevin Macdonald Starring: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Helen Mirren Release date: April 17, 2009 Plot: “Based on the BBC mini-series of the same title, a team of investigative reporters work alongside a police detective to try to solve the murder of a congressman’s mistress.” More –> State of Play Movie

IMAGINE THAT Directed by: Karey Kirkpatrick Starring: Eddie Murphy Release date: June 12, 2009 Plot: “A financial executive (Murphy) who can’t stop his career downspiral is invited into his daughter’s imaginary world, where solutions to his problems await.”

G-FORCE Directed by: Hoyt Yeatman Starring: Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Penelope Cruz, Steve Buscemi, Tracy Morgan Release date: July, 24, 2009 Plot: “A specially trained squad of guinea pigs is dispatched to stop a diabolical billionaire from taking over the world.” More –> G-Force Movie

What movies from this list are you waiting for and why?

A new movie poster of State of Play, upcoming movie directed by Kevin Macdonald and starring Ben Affleck and Russel Crowe, is available:

(Click on a poster to enlarge it.)

Russell Crowe is an actor I really appreciate. So even if the movie does not seem that much great I’ll give a try to State of Play.
:)

Director Kevin Macdonald has tackled the movie adaptation of British TV series State of Play. The plot of the six hour mini-series has been condensed to fit two hours, and the location changed to Washington, D.C. In the lead cast: Ben Affleck and Russel Crowe, respectively as a young politician and an investigative journalist. The movie State of Play is scheduled to be released on April 17, 2009.

Here below the first official movie trailer of State of Play:

Plot:
“Handsome, unflappable U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is the future of his political party: an honorable appointee who serves as the chairman of a committee overseeing defense spending. All eyes are upon the rising star to be his party’s contender for the upcoming presidential race. Until his research assistant/mistress is brutally murdered and buried secrets come tumbling out.

McCaffrey (Russel Crowe), has the dubious fortune of both an old friendship with Collins and a ruthless editor, Cameron (Helen Mirren), who has assigned him to investigate. As he and partner Della (Rachel McAdams) try to uncover the killer’s identity, McCaffrey steps into a cover-up that threatens to shake the nation’s power structures. And in a town of spin-doctors and wealthy politicos, he will discover one truth: when billions are at stake, no one’s integrity, love or life is ever safe.” (Source: Coming Soon)

Director Macdonald said that State of Play explores the topical subjects of journalistic independence and the relationship between politicians and the press. Well, judging from this State of Play movie trailer I’d say that the film just plays with the usual prejudices of Hollywood against politicians…

In the role of the young politician they should have chosen a black actor: Ben Affleck is a great actor besides being handsome, but with an Afro-American actor State of Play would have been more in touch with the new paradigm of America’s political world!

Hope to get some preview clips of State of Play soon.
:)

State of Play
Thriller/Drama/Crime
Directed by Kevin Macdonald
Starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Helen Mirren
Release Date: April 17, 2009

More information at: State of Play Movie Trailer