STATE OF PLAY Review

STATE OF PLAY is gripping, an intense thriller that doesn’t have car chase scenes but it has that race against time factor especially when it comes to investigative journalism and deadlines. The twist ending isn’t much of a revelation but… a satisfactory resolution nonetheless. The entire time it takes us on a whodunit case through reporter’s world and methods. It’s not as monumental as All The President’s Men but I think more smart movies like STATE OF PLAY should be made.

Handsome, unflappable U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is the future of his political party: an honorable appointee who serves as the chairman of a committee overseeing defense spending. All eyes are upon the rising star to be his party’s contender for the upcoming presidential race. Until his research assistant/mistress is brutally murdered and buried secrets come tumbling out.
McAffrey has the dubious fortune of both an old friendship with Collins and a ruthless editor, Cameron (Oscar® winner Helen Mirren), who has assigned him to investigate. As he and partner Della (Rachel McAdams) try to uncover the killer’s identity, McAffrey steps into a cover-up that threatens to shake the nation’s power structures. And in a town of spin-doctors and wealthy politicos, he will discover one truth: when billions are at stake, no one’s integrity, love or life is ever safe.

Director Kevin Macdonald who brought us The Last King of Scotland takes his time with STATE OF PLAY. Those who are impatient might find the first half of the movie to be a bit on the boring side. But once you can put the pieces of the puzzle together, the pace picks up and the story starts to slowly but surely unravel itself. I appreciate the fact that it doesn’t have outrageous scenes, it aims to be as realistic as possible, but at the same time, the movie lacks humor, too much serious could make your mind go numb..and at times, this almost gets to that point.

STATE OF PLAY reminds us that in the midst of internet, blogs, TV’s and all other technological channels and portals out there, newspapers are still very vital, influential players in releasing information that shape the people.
Just like in The Last King of Scotland, where director Kevin Macdonald prepares each moment to bring us to the big devil embodied by the dictator played by Forest Whitaker… in STATE OF PLAY, Macdonald also builds it brick by brick, leading up to the unmasking of the devil behind the corruption and lies.
Speaking of lies, I believe deception is the underlining thread in this story, so thin and yet effective. Right from the start.. it’s all about cover-up. We’re made to believe that in this movie, the media is the good guys but even they do their own share of lies. STATE OF PLAY gives you different street smart ways that reporter use to dig out the truth. Not interrogation style like police work but in the way they word out their sentence and language when they ask a certain set of questions or the places they’d choose to ambush their potential sources. It’s like trapping somebody to say something. Fascinating.

Brilliant cast led by the unbelievably fat Russell Crowe. I just had to mention that he has let himself go in this one. But it helps with his character who’s so focused in his work so much so that he doesn’t have time to even cut his hair, shave, or buy a decent car or workout. I wouldn’t say this is Russell Crowe’s best work but he gives a convincing performance. The dreamy Rachel McAdams wants to show that she can play in the same caliber level as Crowe and Helen Mirren and she sure can. The young actress is not The Notebok girl anymore, she’s got charisma and her supporting role is one that’s not easily forgotten. As the reporter that Russel Crowe’s character’s mentoring, she finally learns what it means and what it takes to get the story, which line that shouldn’t be crossed and which rules that can be bent. Doubt follows her as she wonders if it’s all worth it.
Ben Affleck will always be Ben Affleck, but he’s a necessary addition because it’s as if the character was practically written with him in mind.
STATE OF PLAY is the kind of thriller that makes you think and you’ll feel glad once you’ve passed the test at the end. A study of corruption, immorality, and the ends justify the means. The problem at hand is so connected and dangerous, you don’t know who might get hurt next,.. you’re gonna wanna sit through this one.

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