State Of Play DVD - One to watch

Wednesday, 23 September 2009

When I was asked to review the new Russell Crowe movie State Of Play I jumped at the chance.

The movie was based on a 1993 BBC drama series that was written by Shameless creator Paul Abbott. Four years ago I was lucky enough to meet Paul and hear him talk about his writing so I was intrigued to know what the movie adaptation would be like.

I wasn't disappointed. Both Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck put in great performances and I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout the whole film.
The story

Oscar winner Russell Crowe leads an all-star cast in a blistering thriller about a rising congressman and an investigative journalist embroiled in an case of seemingly unrelated, brutal murders. Crowe plays D.C. reporter Cal McAffrey, 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 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.

Reviews

"The pros, including sharp dialogue from a triumvirate of writers including Bourne scribbler Tony Gilroy, outweigh the cons in a polished, engrossing whydunnit you'll want to see more than once."

"This is the best thriller of the year so far. Exciting, interesting, gripping and impossible not to get sucked into, this is a great movie."

"Even if you don't normally bother with movies, cheer yourself up by seeing this. There hasn't been a more engrossing or intelligent political thriller in the past three decades."

"State Of Play's portrayal of the fine art of hackery gets it just right which, welded to a cracking storyline, makes for a first-rate movie."

Reviews credit: Rotten Tomatoes