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DVD Description
The State Within A flight explodes in mid-air during take off near Washington DC. Later that day, as a shocked capital struggles to come to terms with the disaster, a diplomatic catastrophe envelops the British Embassy. A cat's cradle of tangled affinities and conflicting interests told through interlinking stories unfold as British Ambassador Mark Brydon slowly realises that he is being played by an invisible puppeteer with great power. A tightly plotted conspiracy thriller about the limits of diplomacy in a world where government has abdicated responsibility for war.
Synopsis
High stakes foreign politics is the name of the game in TV drama The State Within. After a plane explodes over Washington D.C. panic begins to envelop the British embassy, and its ambassador to the U.S. Mark Brydon (Jason Isaacs) finds himself caught up in a potentially damaging diplomatic incident.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
102 of 103 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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.
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
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 DVD 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.
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 DVD 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.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
I watched this when it was on television and found it gripping. The plot is intelligent and the characters are intense. There is so little quality drama on TV this was a real find.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great and almost non fiction
The story is riveting and sadly enough all to close to reality. The story looks as if derived from a real life scenario to overtake and rule the middle east resources.
Published 2 months ago by JaPo
the state within
exciting from start to finish sharon gless is brilliant (im bias) excellent buy
reccomended for all ages. i really enjoyed it
reccomended for all ages. i really enjoyed it
Published 4 months ago by jillyg
Brilliant
How did I never see this on TV when it first was shown?
I got this DVD after watching Case Histories recently and wanted to see something else with Jason Isaacs in it... Read more
I got this DVD after watching Case Histories recently and wanted to see something else with Jason Isaacs in it... Read more
Published 8 months ago by HJK
A Must See Series!
If you liked the excellent State of Play then this is as good if not better. The acting is second to none as is the plot and action. Read more
Published 11 months ago by ekb
Cracking Stuff
Saw this when it was first on TV and enjoyed it immensely have just purchased it as was awaiting for it to go down in price ;0) and it's every bit as gripping as I remember it. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Johnny 5 Eyes
Lazy plotting, terrible dialogue, inept acting - in short, avoid!
I was seduced by the good reviews on here into buying this - how I wish now I'd ignored them and paid heed to the two negative reviews on this site. Read more
Published 14 months ago by imran raja
the phones, the phones
I do love a political thriller, and was looking forward to watching this, but I was disappointed. The plot wasn't too bad overall, but the acting was incredibly wooden and the... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Terence Marriott
How did I miss this!
This is one of those TV mini series that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Great story, great acting and great end.
All that puzzles me is how I missed it on TV? Read more
All that puzzles me is how I missed it on TV? Read more
Published 21 months ago by Andrew James
Please God, Make it STOP!!!
Incompetent Ambassador Man: What's the Prime Minister got to say about the Americans arresting ALL THE BRITISH MUSLIMS?
Obviously Dodgy Aide: He's in a meeting. Read more
Obviously Dodgy Aide: He's in a meeting. Read more
Published on 30 Nov 2009 by I. M. Morris
You were right
Bought this DVD on the strength of the previous reviews and thoroughly enjoyed it. Shame that it was so short (relative to 24) and hope that the writers produce this quality again... Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2009 by D. Haigh
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