State of Play
Cast: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels, Josh Mostel, Michael Weston, Barry Shabaka Henley, Viola Davis
Rating: 4/5
So there may have been a lot of politically themed movies gracing our screens over the last few months but State of Play breaks the biopic tradition of 2009 and is a good old fashioned whodunnit.
Handsome, unflappable U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Affleck) is the future of his political party: an honourable appointee who serves as the chairman of a committee overseeing defence 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.
D.C. reporter Cal McAffrey (Crowe) has the dubious fortune of both an old friendship with Collins and a ruthless editor, Cameron (Mirren), who has assigned him to investigate.
As he and partner Della (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.
You have only got to read the cast list and see who is behind the camera to realise that this is going to be a classy film with twists, turns and intrigue of the highest order.
And it really doesn't disappoint as the director's ability, great cast and brilliantly written script all come together to produce the best thriller of 2009 so far.
Adapted form the hit BBC television drama the movie has Tony Gilroy on the writing team, the man behind Michael Clayton, State of Play is good old fashioned of investigative journalism, pretty much in the vein of All the President's Men which are very rarely seen on the big screen today.
And while there are clear influences from the likes of these journalism movies of the past, The Parallax View being another, following the hardy journalist who will stop at nothing to get at the truth there are also moments of nostalgia that looks at this dying industry.
And while State of Play's influences may have been seventies movies the film really is very current touching on war, security and politicians relationship with the press.
But it's the cast that really makes this movie what it is, in particular Crowe who plays McAffrey the street smart and old school journalist who strives for nothing but the truth.
Stubborn McAffrey holds on to his journalism methods of collecting the facts before jumping to conclusions and struggles with partner for the story Della, who is very much a modern journalist.
It's also a welcome return to the big screen for Ben Affleck in the role of U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins in one of his strongest performances to date. Unfortunately Helen Mirren and Robin Wright Penn are drastically underused.
Despite this Penn's characters of Collins' wife does produce a personal aspect of the investigation for McAffrey, which also produces it's own equally compelling twists and turns.
After beginning his career in documentary making before going in to shoot The Last King of Scotland Kevin McDonald has proved himself to be a first class and meticulous filmmaker as he moves the movie on at a steady pace slowly reeling the audience in, as well as tying up all of the loose ends.
While it may not have the political gravity of All the President's Men State of Play really is a great piece of thrilling filmmaking and the type of movie Hollywood should be making more of.
State of Play is out on DVD now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw