The BBC version of State of Play is 335 minutes long compared to the 1 hour and 57 minutes of the U. S. movie version. There are many more minor characters in the British version. Much more detail to the tangled plot. Bill Nighy is terrific as the crusty managing Editor. Comparing the mini-series to the movie is like comparing apples and kumquats. Both have completely different pacing and dramatic moments. The movie is sleeker, with more tension and suspense. The mini-series has more humor, most of it centering around Dominic Foy (the bi-sexual PR agent) and it’s sexier. My recommendation is to see both versions. GRADE: B+