Tuesday, April 17, 2018

MOVIE DIALOG OF THE DAY ― STATE OF PLAY (2009)

Connection to the previous post (TRUMBO): Helen Merrin appeared in TRUMBO and co-starred in STATE OF PLAY.

Ratings: IMDB ― 7.1/10, Rotten Tomatoes ― 84%, ME ― 75%




Cal McAffrey: Mornin'...
Cameron Lynne: So? Where are we, was he nobbing her or not?
Cal McAffrey: Morning, Cam...
Cameron Lynne: That's funny about you. Every time your friend runs for re-election or conducts a hearing, you drop his name to me until we give him some coverage... but he finally does something that actually might sell some newspapers, you render mute. It's, it's - incongruous!
Cal McAffrey: No, it's not... it's inconsistent.
Cameron Lynne: Pfff, don't be an ass. What do you think? Those are the ideas for our facelift. I know, I know... it's crap! Our new owners have this odd idea that we ought to be turning a profit.
Cal McAffrey: Yeah, well I hear our online site is doing great. I mean, not that I get to notice that sort of thing. I've been here what, uhh... fifteen years? I use a sixteen year old computer... she's been here fifteen minutes and she can launch a Russian satellite with the gear she's got.
Cameron Lynne: Yeah, she told me you behaved like a pig.
Cal McAffrey: That's too strong.
Cameron Lynne: Well, pig-ish.
Cal McAffrey: I showed her a little snout, uhuh.
Cameron Lynne: Well, I happen to like miss Della Frye... and yes, I did send her down there to winkle something out of you. She's hungry, she's cheap and she churns up copy every hour.
Cal McAffrey: Yeah, I now... I'm overfed, I'm too expensive and I take way too long.
Cameron Lynne: Yes, you do.
Cal McAffrey: I was Stephen Collins' room-mate in college... I don't live with him now.
Cameron Lynne: Well, that's a shame isn't it.
Cal McAffrey: Yeah... 'cause I could sell some newspapers.

Russell Crowe as Cal McAffery and Helen Merrin as Cameron Lynne

Trivia (From IMDB):

Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) is referred to by one of his colleagues as "yinzer". This is a reference to a person from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The term "yinz", or "yinz guys" is a term used by Pittsburghers, meaning "you all". This is further supported by the various Steelers paraphernalia in McAffrey's apartment, and a Steelers tank top worn by McAffrey.

Cal refers to his friend, Representative Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck), as Sliberty, another reference to Pittsburgh. East Liberty, a section of Pittsburgh, is shortened by natives to Sliberty. It's one of those things by which you know someone is from Pittsburgh.

There is a partially hidden photo of real-life Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of 1970's Watergate fame on the wall of McAffrey's cubicle.

The newspapers seen in the movie were printed on the presses of The Washington Post.

Brad Pitt and Edward Norton originally signed on for the movie that would have reunited them for the first time since Fight Club (1999). However, Pitt pulled out before Thanksgiving 2007, when re-writes were made impossible because of the writers' strike. He was replaced by Russell Crowe. Pitt's departure delayed the start of shooting, and made Norton unavailable, as he was committed to start shooting Leaves of Grass (2009) in January. He was replaced by Ben Affleck.

Helen Mirren shot all of her scenes in four days.

Russell Crowe had Ridley Scott read the script to help him decide if he wanted to make it.

Kevin Macdonald intended the movie to pay homage to All the President's Men (1976) by using the Watergate Hotel, and the parking garage as locations.

The picturesque open-air fish market used as a location was scheduled for demolition.

Director Kevin Macdonald considered asking Bill Nighy to reprise his role of Cameron, but decided to make the character a female instead. Helen Mirren was then cast.

In the opening scene, Russell Crowe is shown singing "The Night Pat Murphy Died". In 2008, the band Gaelic Storm released a CD with a track titled "The Night I Punched Russell Crowe", based on what they claim to be a true story that happened to their lead singer, Patrick Murphy.

The photos on display behind the desk in Cameron Lynn's office are Helen Mirren's own personal photos and show her with her sister, Kate, and husband Taylor Hackford.

The screenplay for this film was featured in the 2006 Blacklist; a list of the "most liked" unmade scripts of the year.

"The Night That Paddy Murphy Dies" is the song featured in the opening scene of the movie. The song is by Great Big Sea, a band from Newfoundland, Canada. Alan Doyle, Great Big Sea's lead singer, and Russell Crowe are known to be close friends. In previous years, Crowe has been spotted numerous times visiting the province of Newfoundland.

The scene in which Anne Collins (Robin Wright) makes a statement to the press was shot at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The production employed the presence of several real-world journalists amongst the extras in a scene. The group included Bob Woodward, Margaret Carlson, Bob Schieffer, John Palmer, E.J. Dionne, Jr., Katty Kay, and Steve Clemons.

The scene in which Cal orders lunch, but is then interrupted by his bag getting stolen, was shot at Ben's Chili Bowl, a real Washington, D.C. lunch counter that has been open on U Street NW since 1958.

Brad Pitt nicknamed the film "State of Delay" after being stalled on it.

This was based on the 2003 television series. This story is a lot like that, but instead of a military contractor company, it was an oil company.

The film cast includes four Oscar winners: Russell Crowe, Helen Mirren,Ben Affleck and Viola Davis, and one Oscar nominee: Rachel McAdams.

Jessica Chastain auditioned for a role.

Numerous directors were offered this film. Amongst them were Brian De Palma, Martin Campbell, Richard Linklater, Ang Lee, and Jim Jarmusch.

During the preproduction phase of filming, several sources reported that Haverford College, a prestigious liberal arts college in the "Main Line" area outside Philadelphia, had been approached for production design and costume items meant to imply that the two main characters, Cal McAffrey and Stephen Collins, had first met while attending Haverford. Although a plaque with the Haverford logo does appear in the background in one scene, there is no further on-screen acknowledgment of the characters' shared alma mater.

After Brad Pitt departed from the film, and before Russell Crowe replaced him, other actors considered for the role of Cal McAffrey were Johnny Depp, Nicolas Cage, and Tom Hanks.

In the scenes where Cal McAffrey goes to the hospital towards the end of the movie, the building that is used as the hospital is actually the headquarters for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This is one of two movies to star Ben Affleck and Jason Bateman in 2009. They also starred in Extract (2009).

This is the first movie to sta Rachel McAdams and Jason Bateman. They would later go on to appear in Game Night (2018).

Edward Zwick was originally attached to direct, but backed out in early stages of development.

Russel Crowe and Ben Affleck Have bot appeared in DC Fims, Ben Affleck " Batman vs. Superman" (2016) ! Russel Crowe " Man of Steel" (2015)

Spoilers ―

Although Robert Bingham is shot and killed by police on the street outside Representative Collins' office, the text of the story that Cam types at the end, says that police discovered Bingham's body in his apartment, an apparent suicide.

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