State of Play
Apr. 23rd, 2009 05:59 amBeen awhile since I went to the movies with the family. Last night we caught State of Play. Which apparently was originally a BBC mini. Anyway its a political thriller. Mistress and political aide of Congressman (Stephen Collins) is killed in subway accident/suicide/murder. Congressman is part of panel investigating BlackwaterPointCorp. The Congressman is friends with a Washington reporter (Cal McAffery) who is looking into the double shooting of a purse snatcher and a regular citizen delivering pizzas by bike. Investigating the sordid affair angle is paper's rookie blogger/editorialist (Della Frye)...
Its a perfectly good movie. Russel Crowe is Cal and is always good. Rachel McAdams is Frye and she pulls off the whole "discovers the way of real investigative journalism" quite nicely. And Congressman Collins is Ben Affleck who essentially plays Ben Affleck. Which is good, since thats honestly when he's at his best in a movie...
Theres some decent twists, including a final act one (that really only has one plot hole to it I spotted). Plus some great supporting roles by Helen Mirren as the paper's editor and Jason Bateman as a PR specialist and source for the story...
But despite all that I'd still say don't pay full price. Its not one of the best mystery/thriller types I've seen, but its a solid picture. Well worth a rent or a matinee. I am 'flixing the BBC original, if for no other reason than BIll Nighy plays the editor in that one...
Its a perfectly good movie. Russel Crowe is Cal and is always good. Rachel McAdams is Frye and she pulls off the whole "discovers the way of real investigative journalism" quite nicely. And Congressman Collins is Ben Affleck who essentially plays Ben Affleck. Which is good, since thats honestly when he's at his best in a movie...
Theres some decent twists, including a final act one (that really only has one plot hole to it I spotted). Plus some great supporting roles by Helen Mirren as the paper's editor and Jason Bateman as a PR specialist and source for the story...
But despite all that I'd still say don't pay full price. Its not one of the best mystery/thriller types I've seen, but its a solid picture. Well worth a rent or a matinee. I am 'flixing the BBC original, if for no other reason than BIll Nighy plays the editor in that one...