As the summer season closes out, what's probably the slowest week of the year for DVDs has arrived. Only one wide release film is on the slate, and even the catalog titles and television box sets are light. Regardless, we'll stifle a sigh and press on like always with this week's DVD Report.
"State of Play" is a murder mystery whodunit, subbing in reporters for cops. Russell Crowe plays an old school, boots-on-the-ground investigative journalist who doesn't get the whole blogging thing. He also happens to be old college roommates with a powerful politician who, whoops, just had his mistress offed, sending Crowe on a mission to uncover a growing conspiracy behind the killing. The film comes from director Kevin MacDonald, who showed great promise with "Last King of Scotland," and its cast roster is filled with heavy-hitting names like Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels, Robin Wright Penn, Ben Affleck and Jason Bateman. Read more...
Though Steven Soderbergh has featured unknown, untrained actors in his movies in the past, he has raised a number of eyebrows recently by casting porn star Sasha Grey in the lead of his forthcoming feature 'The Girlfriend Experience.' To be sure, Grey is certainly outside of the mainstream of Hollywood actors, but she certainly is famous and has had quite a bit of experience on camera. Does Soderbergh consider her to be a true amateur?
Steven Soderbergh must have wanted an actress with a bit of real-world experience for his new movie.