Customer Reviews

The State Within

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

A cracking political thriller with most of the action Washington based and involving governments, private companies and perhaps predictably, a small oil-rich Asian country (Trygyzstan, Tyrgyztan or Tyrygsztan depending how quick your eyes are) so the events are very contemporary and mostly credible, too.

The 350 minutes get off to a stunning start with an airliner being blown up and crashing onto an expressway near Washington and from this point on you'll be hooked like I was. Considering this is not big bucks Hollywood the crash looked incredibly convincing, as does everything else though it was mostly filmed in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario.

The six parts move along efficiently, especially with plenty of steadycam and accompanying sound effects, but you'll have to pay attention because this is not black and white plotting, the good guys are not obvious and there is no winning side. The casting is fine with Jason Isaacs turning in a great British Ambassador and perhaps Sharon Gless should be taken on by Department of Defence as their no-nonsense Secretary (but maybe her hands are tainted, too). Nothing is what it seems at first.

The UK DVD release includes a twenty-seven minute 'making of' extra. Worth a look though it is the usual back slapping stuff. Several minutes are devoted to creating the airliner crash, which I thought were interesting and Grainne Marmion has some good comments on how she interpreted the production.

This is a conspiracy thriller that will certainly be worth watching several times.

While I don't think "The State Within" is a perfect political thriller, I will pay it the highest compliment for this type of entertainment--it is ambitiously complex without being unnecessarily convoluted. This six part British miniseries (each part is approximately an hour) carries about twelve major characters and five major plot strands and interweaves them expertly throughout. Seemingly unrelated events converge as layers of intrigue and duplicity are revealed. While some have compared this to a more cerebral "24," it actually has little in common with the American show other than the overt themes inherent in global politics, government corruption, and terrorism. But wait a minute.....Just as "24" in an intriguing thrill ride that sometimes strains credibility, so is "The State Within." And just as you might overlook the believability factor in "24" because the story told is so intricate and entertaining, you might also be willing to accept "The State Within" at face value. For make no mistake, "The State Within" (at the most fundamental level) is rousing entertainment.

Surprisingly, this British production is set largely in the United States. The British Ambassador, played by Jason Isaacs, becomes the centerpiece for the story when an airplane is bombed as it takes off over Washington D.C. Issacs is, literally, in the middle of the wreckage (in an impressively staged action scene) and continues to be, figuratively, as a British national is implicated in the terrorism. With multiple plot strands that include a death row inmate, an American company's international investment, a rogue military unit on U.S. soil, a controversial and brutal coup, and the Secretary of Defense (Sharon Gless)--this drama effectively juggles a lot of action. With a solid, well written screenplay--it keeps the pacing quick and handles matters intelligently and, for the most part, believably. That's not to say everything is 100% believable in concept, but within the context of the story--things flow logically and maintain your interest without insulting your intellect.

While surrounded by a capable and talented cast, Isaacs does carry much of the production as the Ambassador/action hero. Always good, and underrated, this is an interesting counterpoint to his most recent role as an Irish mob boss in Showtime's "Brotherhood." Any doubt to his versatility should be put to rest in comparing these pieces of good versus evil (and for good measure, throw in the romantic leading man of "Passionada" and "Nine Lives"). Gless has the showiest role as the tough-as-nails official--and while many will appreciate its ferocity, it lacked a subtlety that I would have found more compelling. But everyone really contributes to the excellence of "The State Within" in terms of acting. For such a large ensemble, there isn't one missed opportunity when it comes to casting.

I really enjoyed "The State Within" and recommend it wholeheartedly. When judging material of this length (or a series, for that matter), I have to contemplate--"Is it worth the time invested?" Definitely yes, in this case. Smart and literate. Exciting and topical. And best of all, a suitably ambiguous ending that gave me a great belly laugh! Check it out if you're a fan of political thrillers--but be forewarned, this one will require the use of your brain. KGHarris, 03/07.

This series was often compared to "24"--I can't compare them, as I always found "24" too stupid and convoluted to watch. "The State Within" also has a complicated storyline, dealing with a range of subjects from the influence of the military-industrial complex to the morality of capital punishment.
In the main, these are skillfully juggled and the various characters deal with them in ways that are interesting and believable.
Jason Isaacs is terrific as the confused and conflicted Mark Brydon, struggling to navigate through a morass of obstruction and obfuscation, and the rest of the cast, particularly the very welcome Sharon Gless, offers uniformly strong and capable performances.

"The State Within" is an intelligent, well-acted, entertaining political thriller. What it is not is a diatribe against the United States. Having read reviews claming that it was, I watched "The State Within" with some trepidation. One review said that, with the exception of the death row prison guard, the Americans were all one-dimensional villains. Not true. There were good Americans and bad Americans in the film, just as there were good British characters and bad British characters.

The film does make the point that, in politics, even choosing the better (most moral) choice can lead to unintended and even evil consequences. No one recognizes this better than Mark Brydon, the hero and clearly a good man. There are some veiled references to Iraq, so I supposed those individuals who firmly believe invading Iraq was the correct thing to do might take offense, but that still doesn't mean "The State Within" is anti-American.

The viewer does need to be patient with "The State Within." There's a fairly large cast of characters and it may take an episode or two to keep them all straight. I'm astounded by the reviewer who claimed to have the entire story figured out in half an hour. I'm not sure all the characters were even introduced by that point. The production as a whole is top-notch, and I especially enjoyed Eva Birthistle as Jane Lavery and Ben Daniels as Nicholas Brocklehurst. His character will keep you guessing for several episodes. Also outstanding was the actor who played the prison guard (not sure of his name), He has such an expressive face. Jason Isaacs gives a compelling performance as the lead character Mark Brydon. Ever since I saw him as Lucius Malfoy in the second Harry Potter movie I've found him to be a fascinating actor, and it was so enjoyable to see him play a hero for a change.

While this lightning-paced, well-acted political thriller made for BBC America has one or two "believability" holes (the most prominent being a U.S. governor ordering the roundup of Muslims in Virginia, just because they ARE Muslims), overall it presents what some of us may suspect is a depressingly accurate description of behind-the-scenes "realpolitik" among major powers and corporate interests battling for hegemony in the oil-rich Middle East, with few moral inhibitions (make that NO moral inhibitions) about how they achieve their goal.

"The State Within" is a thinly disguised portrayal of the events of 9/11 combined with a few lesser-known ones surrounding British and American covert operations in the Iraq/Uzbekistan region, and how these events led up to and made possible the invasion of Iraq - not for humanitarian reasons, but for coldly cynical strategic purposes centering on corporate opportunity and access to oil. I wish I could say the scenario is ludicrous, but, unfortunately, it will probably resonate all too realistically in the aftermath of 9/11 and the Bush/Cheney invasion of Iraq. For Iraq/Uzbekistan read the plot's "Tyrgyzstan"; for Halliburton, read its "Armitage"; and for Dick Cheney, former Halliburton CEO, read its "Lynne Warner", former CEO of "Armitage" and now the U.S. Secretary of Defense.

On a beautiful day, a passenger jet explodes over the Beltway in Washington, DC, killing all aboard, as well as many on the ground. Caught on the ground in the middle of the incident is the U.S. ambassador from the Court of St. James, Sir Mark Brydon (Jason Isaacs, more familiar to American audiences as Malfoy, Sr., in the Harry Potter films). Brydon quickly senses that there is more to this dreadful incident than raw terrorism. As official and unofficial information flows in about the the event, its tentacles reach out to include British paramilitary groups operating in "Tyrgyzstan", a former paramilitary now on death-row, private corporate entities whose financial interests would be well-served by utilizing the terrorist attack for "regime change", and, of course, the interests of the US Department of Defense. The picture that forms as the pieces come together is so heinously, murderously venal, that the cost to the conscience becomes too much even for Brydon's seasoned diplomat.

The many layers of this plot make it necessary to pay attention throughout, so this isn't something to accompany a Saturday afternoon nap. It moves along extremely quickly, riding, for the most part, a tightly woven script and excellent performances, starting with Mr. Isaacs as a man whose essentially decent core is challenged beyond capacity by the latest "compromise" required by international diplomacy. Isaacs, with his distinctive voice, piercing eyes, and intelligent persona, is excellent, conveying Brydon's transition from habitual conformity to dogged resistance. Sharon Gless gives Lynne Warner, the corrupt Secretary of Defense, a familiar ruthless arrogance dressed up as "patriotism"; Ben Daniels, the noted British stage actor, is intense as Brydon's aide, Nicholas Brocklehurst, whose loyalties are murky until the last chapter; and special mention must go to the moving performance of Lennie James as Luke Gardner, the death-row British ex-paramilitary, paying dearly for witnessing inconvenient truths. Alex Jennings (the villainous Lord Mark of "Wings of the Dove") is sympathetic as James Sinclair, deeply involved in the rebel movement against strong man "Usman" of Tyrgyzstan, and father of Brydon's godson. Eva Birthwhistle is earnestly courageous as British human rights, anti-death penalty activist Jane Lavery, whose struggle to save Gardner from execution puts her too close to what he knows.

I enjoyed this series immensely. Despite its one or two "incredulity moments", this is quality television viewing for grownups, and this reviewer sat up well past midnight on a weeknight to watch it through, unable to turn it off. It may not be the whole truth but it's bloody close enough to make you wonder glumly exactly what it is about "civilization" that's so civilized.

This certainly turned out to be a most satisfying alternative to the usual TV thrillers out there that rely on police procedure or crime solving. Here, the lynch pin of the story is Sir Mark Dryden, the British Ambassador to the US, played by Jason Isaacs. Frankly, this is probably the most effective role I have seen him in, and is certainly a world away from playing Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter movies.
This is a truly British type of story, with dominantly British characters and with a complex plot. However, it is set in America, featuring all the landmarks we would expect to see in an American thriller.. the West Wing, Lincoln Memorial, etc. To add to the American mix, we even have a recognizable star of American TV - Sharon Gless, who completely casts aside her past in Cagney and Lacey here to embrace the role of Secretary of Defence with a real sense of grit.
Perhaps the most British aspect of this series is the underlying criticism of certain aspects of government - not least The Patriot Act which comes under fire along the way. Certainly terrorism and its origins are at the very foreground of the action.
To reveal too much about the plot would be unfair, but in a nutshell, Sir Mark is caught up in a web of deceit when a plane leaving for London is blown up, apparently by terrorists. Meantime, a Brit is on Death Row protesting his innocence. Could the two be connected...? Suffice to say many more plot strands arise, and interweave in a manner designed to satisfy and keep you glued to the end.
A 6 part mini-series, one hour per episode, was the perfect format for this thriller - instead of a rushed movie, the characters have enough time to develop and breathe, while the plot never slacks pace.
The only criticism to be made, is that they have followed the American model of TV making just a little too far with the ultra rapid editing and `24' style jump cuts. There is enough thrill on the screen from the plot and the acting without this rather incongruous attempt at accentuating the kinetics - without this minor quibble, this would be a 5 star gem.

No one in the English speaking world does long form dramatic television like the British, and this is a flawed but riveting example.

It's a pleasure to be drawn into a tightly woven thriller that in each hour throws more and more and more detail into the mix, but therein is my only complaint - the intricate maze of relentless detail, coming at you like confetti at times, allows no time for the viewer to ponder or even catch up. The layers of simultaneous events and cross-contaminating characters will exhaust you, but pay off in the end.

I find it odd that a number of reviewers complain that this is a preposterous story, obviously using their trusting perceptions of how the US and British governments have behaved in the latest invasion of Iraq. Personally I find it preposterous to imagine that the Iraq invasion DIDN'T happen in a manner quite similar to the scenario laid out in this series. But then naivety is an American trait these days, isn't it.

Imagine the most difficult New York Times crossword puzzle and this is your journey for the next six hours or so. You'll need quite a number of very sharp pencils....

The state within is one of the best mini-series that I have ever seen. Ben Daniels, Jason Issac, and Norman Jenkins were phenomenal in their portrayl of their characters. Not only is the cast superb, but the plot is so well written and the characters' stories perfectly interlinked, that I sat on the edge of my seat through all six episodes, totally immersed in the conflict and drama being potrayed on the TV screen. This is one of the few movies that I could not predict what was going to happen, who was on which side, and who was romantically involved and their motives. The state within is quite refreshing in this aspect. Usually within the first five minutes of a TV show I am able to guess not only what is going to happen during the episode but also most of the diaologue. This is not the case with The State Within. This mini-series,in my opinion was not long enough, and should be brought back to television as a regular show. It is that good. I can promise you one thing, this movie will make you think and it will keep you thinking long after episode 6 is over. It is well worth the money. I have loaned out my copy to a friend from school and she is keeping it to show her boyfriend and I wouldn't be surprised if he wants to show it to his friends:-). It is a great movie and I encourage anyone who gets the opportunity to watch it!

A fantastic 6-part mini-series that stylistically, is a lot like the BBC series, MI-5/Spooks. Part 1 was rather convoluted as a lot of characters were introduced, and many plot threads were as well. But the fun is in finding out how they are connected and come together. You may feel like you don't know what is going on but you will be hooked. And it will be very hard not to watch parts 3 - 6 back to back as the conspiracy unravels with many turns and twists to keep you guessing right to the end.

Leading a great cast, Jason Isaacs is excellent as the British ambassador, especially when he goes head to head with Sharon Gless's formidable Secretary of Defense. Other standouts were Lennie James as death row convict Luke Gardner, and Marnie McPhail as FBI agent George Blake.

The British are masters at creating spellbinding political thrillers, and this one is as outstanding as the rest.

Witin the first 15 minutes a British airliner explodes causing havoc along a Washington DC highway, strewing bodies everywhere. Ultimately the search for possible terrorists leads to an entanglement of all the major US and British security agencies. One is never quite sure until well into the series, exactly who is on which side, and who is behind the havoc. It is only at the end that all the pieces finally come together.

The acting is superb, especially Jason Issacs as the British Ambassador, and Ben Daniels as Nicholas Brocklehurst. Sharon Gless plays the Defense Secretary and makes Dick Cheney seem like a wimp.

This series is very well done and is well worth watching. Highly recommended. If you enjoyed this wseries, do also get The State of Play, anothe British thriller, quite different, which will also have you sitting on the edge of your seat.