Film and TV

Film Review: State of Play (12a)

By Kim Francis
April 23, 2009

Here’s the good news

With so much excellent writing currently on our television screens, it is no surprise that movie bosses are plundering televisual stock for inspiration.

The latest to be picked up and Hollywood-ised is British TV mini-series State of Play.

The action is shifted from London to Washington but the premise is the same: a young political aide is apparently murdered and investigative reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) smells a conspiracy.

He sets about digging up the details with a dogged determination to uncover the truth. Cal is aided by enthusiastic young journalist Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) and tip-offs from insiders and informants.

He also gets a little assistance from some good old-fashioned hunches.

State of Play plays like an advertisement for the ailing newspaper industry, currently threatened by the internet.

See more film trailers on getreading.co.uk

Amid a compelling tale of corporate and political intrigue is the message that if we want accurate, truthful, unbiased news, we need to safeguard the existence of newspapers: hear, hear.

Young upstart Della Frye is a political blogger for the Washington Globe while seasoned veteran McAffrey is a thorough investigative reporter dedicated to uncovering and reporting the real story.

He denigrates blogging and other web content as merely ‘opinion’ and, as an audience, we celebrate this man who toils to reveal the truth at the expense of all else, including personal relationships and his own safety. We see a tenacity and spirit that is absent from the film’s portrayal of the police and politicians.

By the end of the film, Della has been educated by McAffrey to understand and acknowledge the importance of the press.

The final image of them walking away side by side, looking the same, signifies that she is the next generation, following in his footsteps to keep the truth and the facts alive.

The film is compelling and tense with film noir overtones including a femme fatale, shadowy figures, deceit and intrigue. There are also key motifs such as rain and shadows which betray a heavy symbolism.

While the plot is somewhat far-fetched and overly tangled with a hint of The Bourne Identity, it has a peculiar plausibility created by its tone and setting and some top-drawer acting.

Helen Mirren provides some light entertainment as the hard-nosed editor, with her typically British utterings and expletives, but it is Jason Bateman’s cameo that provides one of the film’s highlights.

That’s aside, of course, from Crowe’s absorbing performance as the charismatic yet sensitive hard man who looks like he has been living under a bridge for the past year.

With Affleck also well-cast as handsome Congressman Stephen Collins, State of Play is an enthralling, half-way intelligent thriller with a cast of characters you’ll be itching to learn more about.

It’s a rewarding remake from the talented director of The Last King of Scotland, Kevin MacDonald.

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