It has often been the case that a British TV series does not successfully cross the Atlantic.
The American version of Cracker was a shambles. The Hero of the US pilot episode of Red Dwarf was a six foot, blue eyed, blonde all American boy, they had completely missed the irony of the Dave Lister character.
The Movie version of Hitch Hikers guide to the galaxy should have been sent into Outer Space, never to return, such was the mess that had been made of a brilliant original.
The television series, first shown in 2003, State of Play starring John Simm, Everyman trained Bill Nighy and Liverpool Actor David Morrissey, recently seen in the Christmas Dr Who, was a riveting drama.
State of Play has very successfully crossed the Atlantic and is a triumphant Hollywood homage to Investigative Journalists everywhere.
Originally it was going to be a star vehicle for Brad Pitt and after numerous script changes to keep Mr Pitt happy four days before filming Pitt dropped out.
What do you do when your star and the reason the money is in place to make the film drops out? You hop on a plane to Sydney, as Director Kevin Macdonald did, and go see Russell Crowe, who was resting on his ranch between films.
Russell read the script, liked it and 2 weeks late filming started, I think it was to give Russells hair time to grow into the hippy style that really does suit his character
We can only be thankful that Brad Pitt dropped out because Russell Crowe gives a mesmerising performance as Cal McAffrey, a middle aged Investigative Journalist of the old school, who uses a 16-year-old computer and does his reseach on a story.
What starts off, as an investigation in to a murder of a bag snatcher, do not miss the beginning, quickly develops into a Political conspiracy with the seemingly accidental death of a Congressmans Assistant.
Congressman Stephen Collins, played by Ben Affleck, was once the College roommate of Cal McAffrey and that is the link that starts the State of Play between the murders and the Political conspiracy that drives this film along at a cracking place.
Helen Mirran plays the Editor of the Washington Globe and pairs Cal with Della Frey, played by Rachel McAdams; she is the Graduate Blogger and the papers Website wonder.
Cal McAffrey becomes Dellas reluctant mentor and there is great charisma between them.
State of Play is as much about the changing world of communications as it is a thriller.
Newspapers are suffering as more and more people get their news from the web.
It is predicted that in America some of the major cities, including Chicago and San Francisco will shortly not have a daily newspapers, such is the crisis in print sales.
There are now more people being trained as Journalists than there are jobs for them worldwide, most will have to work on web sites.
The attention to detail in this film is amazing, Director Kevin Macdonald, who made his name as a documentary filmmaker.
He made Touching the Void about a disastrous attempt to climb Siula Grande in the Andes, but is probably most famous for Last King of Scotland the film about Ugandan Dictator Idi Amin, which won Forrest Whitaker the Oscar for Best Actor.
You really do feel that you are in a genuine newspaper office, not a set dreamed up by someone who has never visited one.
The film took 3 months to make and then Kevin Macdonald spent 8 months editing the film.
It was worth it, this is the best thriller this reviewer has seen in years and you will not be disappointed even if you saw the original television series.
State of Play has lost none of the atmosphere of the original and being on the big screen has improved it. All the performances are excellent.
Ben Affleck, who is often underwhelming, has just the right vulnerability as the Congressman caught up in events.
Russell Crowe, who has not always had a good relationship with the press, must have learnt a lot from them because he gives a beautiful performance as the heroic Journalist chasing the story.
Expect him to be picking up a few awards, not least from the NUJ.
The only person who will be disappointed by State of Play is Brad Pitt.
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