State Of Play

Viewer Rating:Mick Jordan has rated State Of Play rating: 3 Star

Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is a crusading politician who is trying to prosecute a private military company which he believes plans to take over the country's defence forces. When his secretary is killed in a Subway accident and he breaks down on hearing the news it becomes clear that he was having an affair with her and a scandal breaks loose. Collins' old college buddie Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe),a reporter with the Washington Globe suspects a smear campaign and believes that the girl was murdered. He sets out to investigate with young rookie Della Frye (Rachel McAdam) at his side urged on by Helen Mirren's litany of Queen's English swear words. State of Play is a brisk entertaining film that passes the time easily enough. There's not a lot of tension or suspense to be had and the final twist feels very tagged on (and completely unnecessary) but the pacing never flags and the film is never less than interesting. It's helped a great deal by the excellent cast who manage to overcome some pretty dodgy clichés in their characters. Russell Crowe's first appearance shows him every inch the scruffy movie reporter. He drives a beaten up old car listening to old Irish rebel songs on his radio and throwing an empty peanut bag onto the growing pile on his back-seat. – It's a wonder he doesn't smoke. Helen Mirren meanwhile is the typical hard-bitten, tough as nails editor – a woman who tells it like it is, even when it isn't. Almost every line of hers is cringe-worthy right up to “I can't protect you anymore, you're on your own” yet she makes it work and you get on with the plot. Rachel McAdam is excellent too and more than holds her own in her scenes with Crowe. – One recommendation that this film has going for it is that it has made me curious to see the original BBC series on which it was based – so much so that I've ordered the DVD.

Review published on the 15 May 2009 16:59