State of Play Series 1 DVD

Starring	David Morrissey, John Simm, Bill Nighy, Kelly MacDonald
Genres	Television

State of Play Series 1

Stephen Collins is an ambitious politician. Cal McAffrey is a well-respected investigative journalist and Stephen's ex-campaign manager. En route to work one morning, Stephen's research assistant mysteriously 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 is found shot dead. These (apparently unconnected) events expose a dangerous habit within modern government of dancing too closely with the corporate devil. Friendships are tested and lives are put on the line as an intricate web of lies unfolds.

Starring	David Morrissey, John Simm, Bill Nighy, Kelly MacDonald, James McAvoy
Studio	BBC WORLDWIDE PUBLISHING
Run time	DVD: 6 hrs
Certificate
Genres	Television
Language	DVD: English
Released	DVD: 02 May 2005
Format	DVD

State of Play Series 1 (2 discs)

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Most helpful member's review of State of Play Series 1
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32 out of 32 people found this review helpful

This is what we pay our licence fee for!

I missed this series when it was first shown on the Beeb, but now that I finally got the chance to watch it properly...this is just outrageously fantastic!

The script, the directing, the acting (Bill Nighy!), everything!!

I could go on and on about it, but if you haven't seen it yet, this really is BBC drama at its best. Don't miss it.
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 31 May 2005 10:51
Most recent members' review of State of Play Series 1
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

fantastic ensemble acting ****1/2

This is gripping, intelligent, rewarding drama. I must have been out of the country when this was on and I only found out about it through on line reviews. Thanks reviewers! I really enjoyed it and the only reason for four and a half stars rather than five is that, like some other reviewers, I found the ending not as satisfying as the rest.

The acting is outstanding; John Simm as the lead reporter Cal McCaffrey and David Morrisey as politician Stephen Collins give faultless performances. Kelly MacDonald, Bill Nighy, James McAvoy, Polly Walker, Philip Glenister are all excellent. I found Dominic Foy (Marc Warren) the only mis note; though he provides some comic relief in the midst of the dramatic tension he seemed to be acting in a different drama from the others.

As in The Wire we see the interdependency of the media, the police and the politicians but here the investigative journalism is the clear leader - uncovering conspiracy and researching the stories. Oh for a newspaper like The Herald! As in The Wire there is scarcely an unnecessary line in the writing.

Abbot achieves a great deal in six episodes - it is pacy and taut with enough twists and turns to keep us on our toes. I can't imagine the movie will do it better.
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 17 Dec 2008 10:18
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