Academy Award(R) Winner Russell Crowe Stars in a Gripping and Provocative Conspiracy-Thriller That Will Have you Riveted Until the Final Twist

Academy Award(R) Winner Russell Crowe Stars in a Gripping and Provocative Conspiracy-Thriller That Will Have you Riveted Until the Final Twist

STATE OF PLAY

SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 OWN IT ON BLU-RAY(TM) HI-DEF & DVD FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- OVERVIEW: A film that Roger Ebert calls "a smart, ingenious thriller," State of Play's tale of murder, corruption, and manipulation will have you holding your breath until the final suspenseful moment. The star-studded cast is led by Academy Award(R) winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator, American Gangster), with Ben Affleck (Good Will Hunting), Rachel McAdams (The Notebook), Helen Mirren (The Queen), Jason Bateman (Juno), and Robin Wright-Penn (Forrest Gump). From director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland), State of Play brings together gripping performances, riveting suspense and is "sophisticated, intelligent and powerful" (Shawn Adams, FOX-TV).

EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def: Unleash the power of your HDTV and experience State of Play with perfect picture and the purest digital sound available.

-- U-CONTROL(TM): Universal's exclusive signature feature puts the viewer
just one click away from going deeper into the making of the film
without ever leaving the movie.
-- PICTURE IN PICTURE: Without leaving the movie, watch featurettes
about the making of State of Play.
-- WASHINGTON, D.C. LOCATIONS: Through interactive graphics and
Picture in Picture, get historical insight on the fascinating
areas of Washington, D.C.
-- BD-LIVE(TM): Access the BD-Live(TM) Center through your
Internet-connected player to download more exclusive content, the
latest trailers and more!

-- MY SCENES SHARING: Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movie
then share with your BD-Live buddies!

BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY(TM) HI-DEF and DVD):
-- DELETED SCENES

-- THE MAKING OF STATE OF PLAY: With interviews from director Kevin
Macdonald and cast members Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, and Rachel
McAdams, take a behind-the-scenes look at creating State of Play.

SYNOPSIS: Oscar(R) winner Russell Crowe leads an all-star cast in a blistering thriller about a rising congressman and an investigative journalist embroiled in a case of seemingly unrelated, brutal murders. Crowe plays D.C. reporter Cal McCaffrey, whose street smarts lead him to untangle a mystery of murder and collusion among some of the nation's most promising political and corporate figures. Handsome, unflappable U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is the future of his political party: an honorable appointee who serves as the chairman of a committee overseeing defense spending. All eyes are upon the rising star to be his party's contender for the upcoming presidential race - until his research assistant is brutally murdered and buried secrets come tumbling out. McCaffrey has the dubious fortune of both an old friendship with Collins and a ruthless editor, Cameron (Oscar(R) winner Helen Mirren), who has assigned him to investigate. As he and partner Della (Rachel McAdams) try to uncover the killer's identity, McCaffrey steps into a cover-up that threatens to shake the nation's power structures. In a town of spin-doctors and wealthy politicos, he will discover one truth: when billions are at stake, no one's integrity, love or life is ever safe.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION - BLU-RAY(TM) HI-DEF:
Street Date: September 1, 2009
Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61106214
Price: $39.98 SRP
Running Time: 2 Hours, 8 Minutes
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1

Rating: PG-13 (for some violence, language including sexual references, and brief drug content)

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French Subtitles, Spanish Subtitles

Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French DTS Surround 5.1, Spanish DTS Surround 5.1

TECHNICAL INFORMATION - DVD:
Street Date: September 1, 2009
Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61104845
Price: $29.98 SRP
Running time: 2 Hours, 8 Minutes
Layers: Dual Layer
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1

Rating: PG-13 (for some violence, language including sexual references, and brief drug content)

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French Subtitles, Spanish Subtitles

Sound: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1

CAST AND FILMMAKERS

Cast: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Jason Bateman, Robin Wright-Penn

Screenplay By: Matthew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilroy, Billy Ray
Directed By: Kevin MacDonald

Executive Producers: Paul Abbott, Liza Chasin, Debra Hayward, E. Bennett Walsh

Produced By: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Andrew Hauptman
Casting By: Avy Kaufman
Music By: Alex Heffes
Costume Designer: Jacqueline West
Editor: Justine Wright
Production Designer: Mark Friedberg
Director of Photography: Rodrigo Prieto

www.stateofplaymovie.net

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.

CONTACTS: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Lea Porteneuve
Senior Vice President, Communications and Publicity
(818) 777-1391
Lea.Porteneuve@nbcuni.com

Cathy Scott
Publicist on Behalf of Universal Studios Home Entertainment
(818) 777-0546
Cathy.Scott@nbcuni.com

Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

CONTACT: Lea Porteneuve, Senior Vice President, Communications and
Publicity of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, +1-818-777-1391,
Lea.Porteneuve@nbcuni.com; or Cathy Scott, Publicist, +1-818-777-0546,
Cathy.Scott@nbcuni.com, for Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Web Site: http://www.stateofplaymovie.net/
http://www.universalstudios.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For artwork, please log on to our website at www.ushepublicity.com

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