Movies

Russell Crowe Saved ‘State of Play’ After Brad Pitt’s Exit

BBG News

In the political thriller movie “State of Play,” released in 2009, the main character Cal McAffrey is played by Russell Crowe. Cal is a tenacious journalist based in Washington D.C., investigating the suspicious death of an aide and mistress to Congressman Stephen Collins, portrayed by Ben Affleck. Originally, Brad Pitt was cast as McAffrey for this film, but he withdrew from “State of Play” just about a week before filming was scheduled to start in November 2007. The movie is an adaptation of the highly praised 2003 British television miniseries with the same title.

After Pitt left, director Kevin Macdonald hurriedly traveled to Australia to consult with Crowe. At that time, Crowe sported a long-haired look in preparation for portraying the lead character in the 2010 historical adventure film Robin Hood, which was initially slated to start production in March 2008. However, when production for Robin Hood was postponed, Crowe suddenly took on the role of McAffrey, a part he had only two months to prepare for impulsively.

Pondering over Crowe’s portrayal of the rugged, older McAffrey, it’s intriguing to speculate how Brad Pitt would have handled this role given their similar age. Interestingly, over the past two decades, Crowe has embraced an older screen image compared to Pitt. This contrast becomes apparent in the 2017 war comedy film “War Machine,” where Crowe delivers a memorable, intense 15-second cameo as General Bob White, a grizzled, seasoned military officer replacing Pitt’s youthful and idealistic four-star General Glen McMahon.

‘State of Play’ Is a Smart and Twisty Political Thriller

The series State of Play presents itself in the manner of a ’70s political suspense drama, particularly in its portrayal of the intersection between journalism and politics. This tension is personified by Russell Crowe’s character, Cal McAffrey, a Washington D.C. investigative journalist. McAffrey’s investigation into the mysterious train death of Sonia Baker, a congressional aide to Congressman Stephen Collins (played by Ben Affleck), becomes increasingly complex due to McAffrey’s personal ties with Collins, their friendship dating back to their college days as roommates. Upon learning about Collins’ intimate relationship with Baker, McAffrey is more of a sympathetic confidant than an objective reporter.

As a seasoned movie reviewer, I can confidently say that the gripping narrative of “State of Play” delves deeply into the murky waters of modern journalism. The protagonist, McAffrey, embodies the traditional reporter struggling in a world where news outlets are swallowed up by global conglomerates.

In this tale, McAffrey uncovers a web of intrigue that connects the mysterious death of Baker and PointCorp, a clandestine defense contractor. At first, it appears that PointCorp orchestrated Baker’s demise due to his spying activities on Collins for them. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the truth is far more convoluted than initially suspected.

This movie serves as a poignant reminder of the shifting landscape of journalism and the complexities that come with it. It’s a must-watch for anyone who appreciates a well-crafted mystery set against the backdrop of today’s media environment.

In McAffrey’s investigation, truth and deception become intricately entangled due to Collins’ skillful manipulation of McAffrey’s weaknesses. This manipulation is aided by Anne, Collins’ wife, who was McAffrey’s college lover and someone he has never ceased loving. By leveraging McAffrey’s persistent romantic feelings for Anne (portrayed by Robin Wright) and his long-standing friendship with Collins, the latter effectively steers McAffrey towards spinning a tale advantageous to them, leading to at least four murders.

Brad Pitt Left ‘State of Play’ Over Creative Differences

Ever since Brad Pitt’s breakout role in the 1991 crime drama “Thelma & Louise,” his illustrious career has been characterized by his discerning selection of collaborators and projects. What attracted him to “State of Play” was not only his appreciation for the 2003 British miniseries with the same title, but also director Kevin Macdonald’s previous work, specifically the 2006 historical drama “The Last King of Scotland,” which garnered Forest Whitaker a Best Actor Oscar. In September 2007, Pitt, who had signed on to star in the film by August, visited the newsroom of “The Washington Post” along with Macdonald for research on his character, Cal McAffrey.

In the following months, Pitt’s involvement with the project began to decline significantly due to creative disputes, unexpected script alterations, and the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike that spanned from November 5, 2007, to February 12, 2008. Pitt attempted to postpone filming until the strike was over so he could work on a new script. However, Universal, the studio behind State of Play, rejected this proposal, leading Pitt to walk away from the project, for which he had agreed to earn $20 million.

‘State of Play’ Marked a Transition Point in Russell Crowe’s Career

The movie titled “State of Play“, with a production budget of $60 million, earned approximately $89 million globally and received mostly favorable critical feedback. However, for Russell Crowe, who was 45 when the film came out, it marked his steady shift towards less prominent projects and characters over the past 15 years, as demonstrated by his more recent ventures into horror movies such as “The Exorcism” and “The Pope’s Exorcist“.

State of Play, currently available for streaming on Hulu with Cinemax, significantly boosted Ben Affleck’s career. His convincing portrayal in the movie, coupled with his successful directorial debut with the 2007 crime thriller Gone Baby Gone, played a pivotal role in helping Affleck restore his professional reputation and launch a successful Hollywood resurgence. This resurgence was fully realized as Affleck both directed and starred in the 2010 crime thriller The Town and the Best Picture Oscar-winning thriller Argo in 2012.

Read More

2025-04-21 05:09

Previous post Rashida Jones’ Huge Contribution to Black Mirror: Two Unforgettable Episodes You Need to See
Next post Joel’s Brutal Death: The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 Shock Ending!