Review: State of Play

Oscar winner, Russell Crowe, leads an all-star cast in a blistering thriller about a rising congressman and an investigative journalist embroiled in a case of seemingly unrelated, brutal murders. Crowe plays DC reporter Cal McCaffrey, whose street smarts lead him to untangle a mystery of murder and collusion among some of the nation’s most promising political and corporate figures in State of Play, from acclaimed director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland).

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 on 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.

McCaffrey has the dubious fortune of both an old friendship with Collins and a ruthless editor, Cameron (Helen Mirren), who has assigned him to investigate. As he and partner Della (Rachel McAdams) try to uncover the killer’s identity, McCaffrey steps into a coverup 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.

State of Play is a gripping espionage thriller. The cast is engaging, the direction and camera work exuberant, and the writing is smart and acerbic, despite the fact that it’s convoluted and has more suspects than a Charlie Chan movie.

Rated PG-13, the film includes some harsh language and violence. It included a couple of crude remarks; fourteen obscenities – mostly the s-word; Christ’s name is uttered four times in anger; a sniper guns down three people; a threatening man is gunned down by the police; a brutal beating; blood from wounded and dieing people; a couple of sexual innuendos, but no graphic situations; implied adultery; and some social drinking.

For a more detailed review, check out the free website, Previewonline.org, where Phil Boatwright reviews films from a Christian perspective.

Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck in State of Play


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