You. YOU hate shows about writers. Especially newspapermen. I know You gave Jessica Fletcher some love on Murder She Wrote and let Lou Grant into Your house on occasion. But generally, the only people who love shows about writers, are writers.
I'm a writer.
Ergo, I loved State of Play, the 2003 mini-series that ran in England on the BBC. It's going to make a Canadian appearance sometime on TVO or BBC Canada. Or you'll see it on DVD in a store. Whatever the circumstances, you simply must watch it.
London, not long after 9/11, is the setting for a double-murder that initially appears to be two unconnected deaths. That connection emerges in the first of the six-hour mini-series, thanks to the work of Cal McCaffrey (played by John Simm) and his team of intrepid reporters. The murders entwine an old friend of Cal's, government minister-to-be Stephen Collins (played by David Morrissey). The first hour ends with a third casualty, one that shocked me immensely, since I'd actually gotten rather attached to the character before the killing. Ahhh, the joys of mini-series.
In short order, lies start piling up. Truth becomes increasing elusive until literally the last scenes of the last show. Friends lie to each other with a facility seen in real life. That they lie to themselves is so much more fascinating. It's hard to miss the final clue to the final mystery, it's the only thing telegraphed in the whole series. Regardless, when the final blow to Cal's world-perception is brought to light, you feel so very sorry for him.
Simm and the copper played by Philip Glenister will register with any fan of Life on Mars, where they played detective and head cop butting heads. Not so much interplay here, but you can see the chemistry. Cal and Collins' wife (played by Polly Walker of Rome fame), end up in a messy, all over the floor, no-hope affair, while Collins goes through PR hell thanks to his affair with one of the murder victims. Speaking of messy, Marc Warren was on a break from starring in Hustle, and plays a hustler here that's all Rizzo with no soul.
For me, the character that really fascinated was the publisher Cameron Foster, played by Bill Nighy. The guy's brilliant in the role. He's the real hero of the story, as far as I'm concerned. He's smart, political and anarchistic all at the same time. He delivers bon mots with a straight face all of the time, all the while moving and shaking the story of the year out of his reporters.
When I worked for the Brampton Guardian (the Bramalea Guardian for most of my employ), I worked for two publishers, Bob Maxwell and Robert King. Maxwell was a newspaperman elevated to the publisher role. He thought like one and he was proud to deliver a big-time product on a small weekly budget. Whatever pre-conceived notions you have of old-time newspapermen, he fulfilled your predictions. His replacement came from the sales side. I locked horns with him frequently in my quest for the largest sports section I could grab.
And yet Robert King is the man I associate with Nighy's role here. Robert was always charming, even when saying no. He fought FOR his reporters, but only behind closed doors. He had an image as a bottom-liner to live up to, but it was all flash. Watching Nighy's Foster through the six episodes, I just saw Robert King making every joke and every hard decision. I miss the journalism of the day.
But enough inside paper stuff. This is a crackling mystery with an ill-fated love story or two. There's betrayal on so many levels as to astound you, and heroism in many places. There's humour and thrilling action. Good guys and bad guys die and infamy lives on.
It's the best thing I've seen this year.
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