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 who had a shiny future ahead of him until the death of his assistant. He understandably looks uptight and stressed most of the time. He's good in this role, as a man with honorouble intentions in his career, but somewhat self-centred in his private life. Like Cal, he's a flawed character, but somehow not as likeable.
Rachel McAdams is attractive, girly and sometimes a bit timid as Della, the fledgling reporter who is finding her feet fast. However, she also comes across as intelligent, not an easy combination of character traits to portray, but she does it well.
Robin Wright Penn is bitter as the wounded wife who has to put on a show for the public in order to try and save her husband's reputation, although for various reasons it's hard to sympathise with her. It's a relatively small role, but a relevant part of the plot.
Helen Mirren is brilliant and entertaining as the snippy, bossy and overstressed editor trying to keep her reporters in line. "F*k you very much!" she snaps at Cal, after he has just managed to get his own way over something.
There's a slow and steady build up of tension as the characters get drawn into a more and more dangerous situation. It's an interesting analysis of the symbiotic relationship between politics and the media and how a story can be cynically manipulated to achieve the desired result. Running parallel to the conspiracy, is the impact it has on the complex relationship between Steven, his wife and Cal, all of whom have known each other a long time. It adds a human interest to the story that was sadly lacking in The International.
Overall it's a gripping and intelligent film that isn't overlong at 127 minutes. It needed that long to tell the story in a way that's well paced enough to understand. The ending is unexpected but an appropriate and satisfying resolution.
Director: Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland)
Running Time: 127 minutes.