MovieChat Forums > State of Play (2009) Discussion > Which actor is worse in this? Affleck or...

Which actor is worse in this? Affleck or McAdams?


IMO:

Affleck was vey bad (especially the part where he's arguing with the Point Corp CEO...over acting would be an understatement),

But McAdams was much worse. There was some part in the movie where Crowe tells her they're off the story and she replies "Ohhh nooooooo".

It is truly cringeworthy. It is awful. Everytime I think about it I shake my head and try to push it out of my mind. I'm contemplating therapy.

reply

I thought McAdams was at least bearable as the young, inexperienced blogger. No excuse for Ben. He is quite possibly the worst "big name" actor I've ever seen.
I came to Casablanca for the waters.....

reply

Rachel McAdams played youthful very well. And inexperienced. I liked Ben Affleck in this - a bit slick, a bit polished, with a touch of the evil politico soul in him. I thought it was good casting and he did a good job.

reply

I think Affleck did an OK job, honestly. But McAdams is really the pits. OK, she didn't ruin "Timetraveller", because that movie was crap anyway, but she is so vapid. She makes Anne Hathaway (who seems to come out of the same factory mold) look a great actress. When Mirren was giving her a dressing down for her "puppy whiney junior reporter gaze - disgusting" (or something like it, I saw it in German) I almost jumped up from my seat, yelling Yeah and thumping my fist in the air. LOL.

reply

[deleted]


LOL. I hear you. I was appalled to even find out that Affleck and McAdams were chosen for those roles. I mean come on. Since when has Hollywood become so desperate ?? You don't put Ben Affleck next to a high caliber actor like Russell Crowe.

And about the only other lousy female actress I can think of that could have replaced McAdams: Ben Affleck's other half: Jennifer Garner :-)

reply

I don't care much for McAdams but I actually think Ben Affleck is a way more talented actor than he is given credit for. I think he used the time he got in this movie well. I think, because he has a way of acting that isn't so open and obvious, people think he's stiff and so on. I'm not saying they're wrong, I'm just saying I don't agree.

reply

Ben Affleck underacted. His scenes were really dull. He didn't get on my nerves though. McAdams, on the other hand, ruined every scene she was in. She must have confused this to some teenybopper movie.

reply

In summary:

Affleck's Character as a congressman would have been better suited for an "older" character not Affleck whose in his early 40's but looks younger.

on to acting:
Affleck's acting suffered from the above and to the stiffness between acting as a friend or like a ego type congressman..just didnt work scenes with crowe were obviously outmatched by the better crowe. In final his attack on Bateman looked straight out of his time portraying Ed o'Bannion (Dazed and Confused).

as for McAdams -- she was flat out terrible. Not believable and her character was not even likeable or desired.

reply

For the boring character she played--she did well...

She had one scene that contained emotion, and she almost nailed it...

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.
-Thomas Jefferson

reply

All the acting is terrible. Even Helen Mirren isn't up to her usual. But none of them are as bad as the insufferable Russel Crowe.

reply

I'll agree that this wasn't McAdams best, but these comments like she is worse actress ever are ridiculous. She did alright, IMO. BF was stiff as usual.

reply

Totally agree - Crowe was fat, greasy and unwatchable. In scenes where he tried to run, I almost had to close my eyes. And his acting was laughable. Worse than 'phoned in' - he actually looked like he was trying, which made it even harder to bear.

reply

thats how i felt but nobody posts on his bad acting.

I'm a master of fright, and a demon of light

reply

[deleted]

The problem is they were cast next to Crowe & Mirren..2 brilliant actors IMO..makes Affleck & McAdams look worse than usual..At least Ben is not as bad as Casey Affleck..my god, he's terrible!!

reply

[deleted]


It's hard to say. Maybe both weren't their best in this film, but both have acted well in other films. (McAdams in the Family Stone, Affleck in Good Will Hunting)

SPOILER ... SPOILER .... SPOILER BELOW....


You could actually say that based on the ending, that Affleck did a great job at feigning surprise and grief at the beginning for his mistress.




.."There is nothing so stable as change." -Bob Dylan

reply

[deleted]

[deleted]

[deleted]