State Of Play (review)

Rating: 4/5 Check it out

A surprisingly easy to follow suspense thriller. That is not to say that it was simple or lacked a twist. It was just well done. The plot runs smoothly and as long as you pay attention it is very easy to understand how we get from Point A to Point B. So many movies of this vein try so hard to trick you that they become convoluted and by the end you don't care who did it you just want it to be over so you can relax. However, this movie finds a way to keep you interested the whole way without losing you in the twists and turns.

The cast is what makes this movie stand out from it's contemporaries. Every one of the major characters is committed to their role and make them believable and interesting. We expect this level of performance from all the big names on this cast. Ben Affleck, Russell Crowe, Helen Mirren, and Jeff Daniels all do top notch jobs in this film; the person who stepped up, and stood out, was Rachel McAdams. This wasn't really a surprise to me, but rather a joy to see her onscreen presence when matched with a strong cast. Her role in the film kind of matches her place in this group of actors and actresses. A talented up and comer who has to work extra hard to earn the respect of the veterans in her field. Perhaps this connection is what makes her performance shine.

Based on a 6 episode BBC mini-series. The story follows Rep. Stephen Collins (Affleck), who is a young congressman with passion. He heads a committee that is looking into government contracts with a private military based company. The day the hearing begins his lead Research Assistant on the project dies under very unusual circumstances. This death and Collins' response to it in the televised hearing attracts the media's attention. Particularly, the attention of two reporters; capitol hill blogger Della Frye (McAdams), and reporter Cal McAffrey (Crowe). McAffrey has a special connection to the case as he is Collins' good friend and college roommate. The two reporters form a bond and follow every lead to find the truth.

Thankfully, even though this movie takes place in the halls of power, it avoids an overtly political agenda. The twists and turns are plentiful but they never get overboard or step outside of the realistic courses of the characters. So if you're looking for something that will keep you guessing but still stay close to realistic. I recommend this one.


State of Play at IMDB
127 minutes
Rated PG-13 for some violence, language including sexual references, and brief drug content.

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