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State of Play
2009
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 McCaffrey, whose street smarts lead him to untangle a mystery of murder and collusion among some of the .. Read more
| Starring | Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Russell Crowe, Robin Wright Penn |
|---|---|
| Director | Kevin Macdonald |
| Genres | Drama, Thriller |
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State of Play
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 McCaffrey, 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.
McCaffrey 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, McCaffrey 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.
| Starring | Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Russell Crowe, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Helen Mirren, Wendy Makkena, Rob Benedict, Katy Mixon, Bonita Friedericy |
|---|---|
| Director | Kevin Macdonald |
| Studio | UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 57 mins Blu-ray: 1 hr 47 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | 100 Most Wanted, UK top 50 weekly chart |
| Genres | Drama, Thriller |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 21 Sep 2009 Blu-ray: 21 Sep 2009 Production year: 2009 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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Russell Crowe joins an all-star cast in Kevin Macdonald's film adaptation of the original TV series. read more »
- LOVEFiLM
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Most helpful member's review
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45 out of 45 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Mixed Bag...
'Touching The Void' and 'The Last King of Scotland' director Kevin McDonald tackles a conspiracy thriller set amidst the background of the decaying American newspaper industry.
Russell Crowe shines in what is a seemingly custom made role as a less than perfect (apparently) old school newspaper journalist. There are some great supporting cast in this highly engaging and entertaining film. But there are too some very poor casting descisions. Helen Mirren in paticular, Jeff Daniels and 'the guy from the Orange mobile phone ads' are all way out of place here.
The script from current hot property Matthew Carnahan, Tony Gilroy and Billy Ray is as slick as you like - fast and well excecuted. But you can't help wondering that the story is all a bit too ludicrous. It's ridden with coincidences that conveniently tie all the characters together all too neatly.
Apparently the filmmakers wanted the film to be a disection of the imploding local newspaper industry in America and for it to serve as a relevant, modern day 'All The President's Men'. But sadly, none of these amitions come across and we don't get a sense of the newspaper environment within the actual movie. An Alan J. Pakula film this is not. If you're looking for a modern day disection of the downfall of the American newspaper, check out the last season of 'The Wire'...
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- OttoParts from Wales
- Posted 22 Apr 2009 12:37
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Most recent members' review
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Jerky camerawork
Okay, but camerawork too jerky so we gave up watching it.
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News and features
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McAdams rallies for Affleck's political career
- 15 Apr 2009
Rachel Mcadams is calling on her new movie co-star Ben Affleck to run for political office in the U.S. - insisting the actor would be "a real asset to the country". Affleck has been candid about his aspirations to one day swap Hollywood for a career in Washington, D.C., and McAdams admits she is impressed with how well he took to playing a congressman in their new movie State of Play. The Canadian star has even offered to help campaign for Affleck whenever he decides to run for office - even... Read more
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State Of Play - BLU-RAY Version
THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND director Kevin McDonald teams with screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan for this American adaptation of the hit BBC miniseries concerning the suspicious circumstances that set a rising congressman and a dogged reporter on a dangerous collision course. U.S. congressman ...
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State of Play
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 McCaffrey, whose street smarts lead him to untangle a mystery of murder ...
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