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.
:)