For those fans who have never seen the movie there is a nice little description about the plot on the back of the State of Play DVD copy. “Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is the rising star of his political party-until his research assistant/mistress is murdered, and buried secrets come tumbling out. Investigative journalist, Cal McCaffrey (Russell Crowe) has the dubious fortune of both an old friendship with Collins and a ruthless editor Cameron (Helen Mirren) who assigns him the story. As Cal and his partner Della (Rachel McAdams) step into a cover-up that threatens to shake the nation’s power structures they discover one truth-when billions of dollars are at state no-one's integrity or love life is ever safe.”
Great Big Sea have their own entry on the IMDb site (as well as a mention on The State of Play IMDb movie site and trivia site). “Great Big Sea is known for their work on State of Play (2009), The Shipping News (2001) and Republic of Doyle (2010)”.
The IMDb State of Play trivia site write “The Night That Paddy Murphy Dies” is a song featured in the opening scene of the movie. The song is by Great Big Sea 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 music helps establish the main character Cal McCaffrey as a 40 something old-fashioned reporter, driving a battered old car, who eats junk food and listens to good old fashioned Irish music telling stories of those who know how to drink and party hard, pretty much like himself. Although Cal is an old fashioned street smart reporter that costs too much and takes way too long he knows how to get the information required to write news stories.
I found a couple more articles with information about the State of Play movie and the Great Big Sea song “The Night Pat Murphy Dies” …
The article “It is all connected…Russell Crowe, Great Big Sea and Me” from the Montreal Gazette August 11 2011 mentions the scene in the movie, the song and Great Big Sea.
… “Movie connection: In the film State of Play (2009) Crowe plays Cal McAffrey, a rumpled, old-fashioned reporter who drives a beat-up old car and uses outdated software. He has lots of contacts all over Washington, D.C., who can help him find out where the bodies are buried, why they were killed or what skeletons are in whose closet…(so to speak.)
Anyway, when Crowe is driving his old car around (while also eating and talking on his cellphone at the same time), the song The Night Pat Murphy Died, by Great Big Sea can be heard on his sound system. (Probably on a cassette.)”
The Buzz “Russell Crowe's great big love for Great Big Sea” by Arts Online posted January 28, 2010.
“…There’s more Crowe-Great Big Sea synergy in the new conspiracy thriller State of Play. The first time we see Crowe’s character, he's driving in his car, singing along to GBS’s The Night Pat Murphy Died in a boisterous if somewhat annoying manner. One can only assume the actor suggested the tune’s inclusion on the soundtrack. The scene helps to establish the character’s bona fides as a rugged, whiskey-loving reporter, but for anyone who knows about Crowe’s ongoing relationship with the band — admittedly, a small percentage of the audience — it’s a distracting meta moment”.
I have circulated a copy of 'The Night Pat Murphy Dies' on my Google + page. Unfortunately there was no official video for this song.
(No copyright infringement intended)
I have circulated a copy of 'The Night Pat Murphy Dies' on my Google + page. Unfortunately there was no official video for this song.
(No copyright infringement intended)
