Welcome to the Shrine to Actors

State of Play has one heck of a cast list. We’ve got:

Russell Crowe (American Gangster, 3:10 to Yuma)

Ben Affleck (He’s Just Not That Into You, Hollywoodland)

Rachel McAdams (The Family Stone and upcoming Sherlock Holmes)

Helen Mirren (Prime Suspect, The Queen)

Viola Davis (Madea Goes to Jail, and fresh off her Oscar nom for Doubt)

Robin Wright Penn (New York, I Love You and Beowulf)

Jeff Daniels (Traitor and Good Night, and Good Luck)

Harry Lennix (Across the Universe, and one of the few bright spots in TVs Dollhouse)

Jason Bateman (Juno, Arrested Development)

The director, Kevin Macdonald, also directed the Oscar-lauded Last King of Scotland.

Clearly, there’s a lot of talent here. While not a guarantee of success, it certainly offers a high probability of some fine acting, no matter the plot. It’s interesting to note that Brad Pitt was originally slated for the role Russell Crowe took over, but Pitt dropped out due to personal concerns with the script. I don’t know if it’s sour grapes, but director Macdonald says Crowe is more suited to the part of the scruffy underdog journalist who supplies a contrast to Affleck’s super slick politician. I’ve seen Pitt do scruffy, but Crowe does tend to have more of a careworn look about him. Perhaps Pitt felt he wasn’t suited to the role, either.

We’ll see what early reviews of State of Play bring–good actors and a good film, or good actors wasted in a bad film? Did Pitt miss his chance, or make a smart move?

State of Play hits US and Canadian theaters on April 17, 2009. (The UK gets it April 24.)

See, I told you I had some more Colin Farrell screencaps lying around. These are from the movie A Home at the End of the World, based on a book written by the same author who penned The Hours.

The story begins with two very different boys in the ’60s–one from a sort of Ozzie and Harriet family (Jonathan) and one from a hippie family (Bobby)–who become close friends and brothers, and perhaps a bit more. The story follows them to the 80s, where a somewhat naive Bobby goes to New York City to live with promiscuously gay Jonathan and his platonic roommate–an artsy older woman named Clare. Colin plays Bobby, Dallas Roberts (recently in 3:10 to Yuma) plays Jonathan, and Robin Wright Penn is Clare. (Sissy Spacek also puts in a marvelous performance as Jonathan’s mother, and Erik Smith is astounding as the young Bobby.)

Bobby is a novel character on film, as he is a kind of innocent who has no defined sexuality. He loves who he loves and it never occurs to him to label anything or do what is “right”. He just does what he feels. The three end up in an unexpected and unique love triangle/family. It’s a beautiful film and I love the characters, but it follows the expected path of most films with gay characters–there must be angst and tragedy. The film asks some interesting questions, but I don’t always like the way it answers them.

Nevertheless, Colin Farrell puts in a beautiful performance. If you’ve only seen his tough, wise-guy or action roles, this will come as a huge surprise. Colin is sweet, vulnerable, and almost ethereal. Bobby so clearly belongs in another world–a better one that we hope will one day exist.

Long-haired Bobby in the big city… (*Click* pics for larger versions.)

Crashing at Jonathan’s place…

Simply looking adorable…

Intimate moments with Clare…

Just had to put Colin in the shorty robe in here…hee!

Angsty Bobby…

Christmas with Bobby and Clare…check out the clothes…

We’ll end on the happy threeway hug…

Hope you enjoyed today’s new pics. I actually have a ton more of these screencaps, so stay tuned to the Shrine for future Colin posts.

**Colin Farrell A Home at the End of the World screencaps, c2004 Hart-Sharp Entertainment and Warner Bros. Home Video.