by A. Marshall

Created on: May 16, 2009

State of Play was originally a BBC drama series (2003) scripted by Paul Abbott and starring John Simm, Bill Nighy and David Morrissey.

Cal McCaffrey(Russell Crowe) is an investigative reporter for the Washington Globe. He is chasing up the case of the shooting of a black drug dealer and a white pizza delivery man who were shot within yards of each other with the same bullets. Shortly after, his editor assigns him the story of a young research assistant who has died in mysterious circumstances on the underground. Could the two cases be connected? The research assistant was working for ambitious Congressman Steven Collins (Ben Affleck) who is opposing a private corporation called PointCorp which is making huge profits in areas of American security. Steven, a married man, is so upset at the death of his assistant that it isn't long before rumours are flying around in the media. He has a lot of explaining to do and his wife Anne (Robin Wright Penn) is not in forgiving mood.

It so happens that Cal and Steven were roommates at college, and Steven realizes that he now needs Cal's help. But Cal soon finds he has been drawn into a story much bigger than he first thought. He has to balance trying to appease the demands of his editor Cameron Lynne (Helen Mirren) to produce a story, while at the same time trying to protect the reputation of his old friend Steven. He recruits the help of Globe gossip blogger Della (Rachel McAdams), much against the wishes of his editor. But Cal thinks she has the makings of a great investigative reporter.

Confused? It's an intricate plot that gets deeper and deeper as the story unfolds. However, the good thing is, it actually all develops clearly and at an understandable pace. This is the kind of big conspiracy film that The International was trying to be, but just got too jumbled up for its own good. State of Play however is well plotted, well scripted, and never fails to intrigue. The characters are complex and well-rounded, fleshed out with subtle injections of backstory that thankfully don't disrupt the plot on the way.

Russell Crowe is on top form, as the whisky slugging Cal who knows every journalistic trick in the book and isn't afraid to break the rules. He's comfortable in his own skin here, looking unkempt and overweight and as if he doesn't give a damn about it. Crowe easily dominates the screen in this and I enjoyed seeing him in this role.

Ben Affleck is impenetrable as the designer suited Congressman

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