John Simm, David Morrissey et al in top notch thriller - the film won't be able to beat it! (State Of Play: Complete BBC Series 1 (DVD))

Member Name: Neenawneenaw

Product:	State Of Play: Complete BBC Series 1 (DVD)
Date:	09/06/09 (7 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic cast, characters, script and gripping storyline

Disadvantages: Marc Warren's Dominic Foy is too easy a target as a repeated comedy victim

This BBC thriller from 5 years ago has recently been remade into a film starring Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck. The publicity surrounding the film's release made me want to see the original series rather than the film - I remember ever-so-good things being said about it, but missed it as I was out of the country.

Anyhoo, State of Play is a cracking thriller straddling the worlds of Westminster, big business and journalism: after MP Steven Collins' (David Morrissey) researcher dies under a tube train, said MP appears overly upset in a news conference, triggering a string of revelations about his private life. Meanwhile the shooting of a young black kid appears to be something to do with a hitman, and the authorities seem to be wanting to cover it up as a drugs killing. What is the connection to the researcher - and what was she doing in the employ of the chair of the energy select committee anyway?

These and other questions are being posed by journalist Cal McCaffrey (John Simm) - who happens to be an old friend and ex-campaign manager of Collins - and colleagues including Della Smith (Kelly McDonald) and editor Cameron (Bill Nighy). Things get murkier as a couple more people get killed, and a few more get scared, and Cal begins an affair with Collin's betrayed wife.

The storyline is gripping and the performances consistently great. As well as those already mentioned, we also see Philip Glenister as the cop Della engages in mutual back-scratching, James McAvoy as cocky editor's son freelance Dan, Polly Walker as Anne Collins and Geraldine James as the woman sent by newspaper bosses to try to justify killing a story that has enemies in powerful places.

It's a six-parter so has time to develop a number of characters and their complex relationships and does so extremely well. Everyone has their own credible voice, and while the material is pretty dark and serious there is time for wit and funny exchanges too.

On this side, I did find the character of Dominic Foy (Marc Warren) a little too broad. He's the grubby 'friend' of Collins' dead researcher who is embroiled way past his depth. Pathetic, scared and easy meat for the team of journalists who want to get information out of him, he's just too much of a universal whipping boy for my liking.

But in the scheme of things it's a small criticism of a fantastic series that held my attention from beginning to end. However good the film may be (and I have no idea) it's got an awful lot to live up to.

Summary: Fantastic political/big business thriller with an unbelievably great cast