State of Play

Today’s quick review: State of Play. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) finds himself at the center of a scandal when the staffer he was having an affair with commits suicide. As the rest of the media rakes him over the coals, his college roommate Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe), a reporter for the Washington Globe, suspects foul play. Along with novice reporter Della Frye (Rachel McAdams), Cal launches a risky investigation to find the truth.

State of Play is a crime thriller and mystery about a pair of journalists who discover a far-reaching cover-up behind a political scandal. The movie features a complex and rewarding story rife with journalistic spirit, a fair amount of character development, and solid all-round craftsmanship. Though it has overt action in only a couple of places and its time pressure ebbs and flows, State of Play remains an engrossing watch from start to finish.

State of Play hits a sweet spot with its mystery. The viewer has enough information to anticipate the characters and predict some of the broad strokes of the plot. At the same time, the details of the investigation are worth following, and the movie injects a few twists to keep the story from getting too predictable. The investigation also has the right scope: high stakes to make it worthwhile, but tangible leads for Cal and Della to hunt down.

State of Play also does well with its characters. Della and Cal have a good dynamic; their light antagonism morphs into a fruitful partnership as the movie goes on. Cal himself is a well-rounded character, with admirable persistence and nice tension between his personal motives and his professional ones. Stephen doesn’t work quite as well, due mainly to his passive role in the plot and him never getting the chance to build up much rapport with Cal.

Give State of Play a shot when you’re in the mood for an investigative thriller with a solid plot and the cast to back it up. State of Play isn’t as deep or as dramatic as the very best films in its genre, but it delivers cleanly on its premise and avoids any serious mistakes along the way. Those looking for a thriller with a focus on story should try it out. Those looking for something action-oriented may want to give it a pass.

For a darker investigation, try Zodiac. For an action-oriented thriller with similar elements, try Enemy of the State, Jack Reacher, or The Adjustment Bureau. For a bleaker investigation with more of an action tinge, try Edge of Darkness.

7.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a robust plot and interesting characters.

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