State Of Play

‘State of Play’ is based on a BBC Television production of the same name. It is a political thriller set in Washington D.C. with the frantic edginess of ‘All The President’s Men’. There is even a suspense filled scene set in an underground parking garage. The Watergate Complex also makes a brief appearance. Perhaps, homage to Alan J. Pakula. Much of the film is shot in a vast, open newsroom. One simply cannot watch the film without thinking of the changes going on in real newsrooms. This is a credit to Director Kevin MacDonald, who paced the action well and made full use of the set.

The plot revolves around the collision of two reporters, one old media, and the other new. Russell Crowe is the grizzled veteran, Cal. His style is hitting the streets and sniffing out the leads and sources that will break the story. Rachel McAdams is Della Frye, Internet savvy and on the rise. When she enters Cal’s world to assist with a big story, she is reminded that her status is that of a Cub Reporter. The source of it, the Ben Bradley-ish publisher, Helen Mirren. Ms. Mirren adds a nice, whiskey in the morning bent to the cast.

Crowe is superb. His portrayal of ‘Cal McAffrey’ is intense, methodical, and steady. When the action kicks into high gear, Crowe’s pace does as well. At times, he reminds me a bit of the immortal ‘Aqualung’ depicted on the cover of the Jethro Tull LP. It may be an obscure reference, but I insisted it remain. He is secure enough in his talent, to allow the other actor’s, mainly McAdams, Ben Affleck and Robin Wright Penn to, on occasion, talk down to his character while he painfully winces, almost in acknowledgement. Lesser actors would never allow this to make the final script. It’s another reason why Crowe is among the very best.

Affleck gives a strong portrayal of a Congressman who gets caught up in the scandals that can easily be lifted from the headlines of many a Washington Post morning edition. The reminder that the plot is plausible makes a statement unto itself. Robin Wright Penn is effective as Affleck’s weary wife. While her part was more complex than most involving ‘the wife’, it could have been a bit healthier.

Rounding out the cast is a nice mix of talent. Jason Bateman in a superbly played role as a source in the investigation, Jeff Daniels, as the Congressional majority whip, Michael Berresse as the loner ex-soldier , Harry Lennex, great as usual, this time as the vexed police detective. Josh Mostel and Michael Weston also deliver nice chemistry as Crowe’s in the field tech specialists.

I also liked the appearance of Sarah Lord as ‘Mandi Brokaw’, the street hustling addict who has a break to offer Crowe in his investigation. She speaks volumes in her initial non-verbal scene, with her expression. Her style is intriguing, and I’d enjoy seeing her in a larger role, perhaps in the future.

The newspaper industry may be the last sign of an era that is phasing out. Papers are ubiquitous. They occupy a place on every corner of every major city in the world. Sadly, this is ending. But not before being documented in solid movies like this. Make sure to watch the end credits, as it takes a final look at the process of putting out a newspaper edition. ‘State of Play’ is one of the movies that will be remembered, in part, for portraying a much-loved industry.