GeekStrike

FilmStrike aims to share our view on movies and films past and present and give you GeekStrike’s take on the past 100 years of this wonderful art medium. So pondering on watching that new movie currently on the silver screen? Wish on reliving classic movies or films that you or your parents enjoyed so much once upon a time? Wanna more about the film industry? Check out FilmStrike! For this inaugural edition of FilmStrike we review the new movie State Of Play.

Based on an acclaimed BBC mini-series, State of Play tells the story of a reporter’s journey to find the truth hidden behind a maze of death, deception and betrayal.

Cal Affrey (Russell Crowe) is a veteran reporter working for the “Washington Globe” living a solitary life after falling out with his old friend Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck). As it turns out, Stephen is now a big shot congressman investigating possible abuses by PMCs (Private Military Contractors) in recent conflicts. When an attractive assistant of Stephen’s (who he is also having an affair with) ends up dead on the subway one morning, all hell broke loose. Now Cal has to help his friend discover the truth behind this incident aided by a young blog “journalist” Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) and his grumpy editor Cameron Lynne (Helen Mirren).

Now on to the review…

If anything has to be said, it is that the greatest strength of this movie is how it illustrates the importance of a free press in a democratic society, wrapping this lesson behind solid entertainment. The struggle of traditional newspapers to survive while maintaining journalistic integrity; the encroachment of sleaze and gossip for readership; the proliferation of half-assed, blog-based “journalists” distorting public debate are all issues that are touched on. What’s more, it does all this without being particularly preachy. By creating an immersive setting (of a news office), director Kevin MacDonald manages to communicate those messages without rubbing it in the viewer’s face. This brings me to the movie’s next strength: its atmosphere.

State of Play must have had one of the most immersive settings of any movie in recent memory. A lot of the suspense in the movie is not delivered by the antagonist, but by the claustrophobic and oppressive atmosphere that seems to permeate every scene (except those in the news office). This movie features one of the most tense shots of a parking lot this writer has every seen in a movie. You know a thriller succeeded when the audience flinches in fearful anticipation whenever the characters move to a new room/corridor/place.

The strength of the settings is further enhanced by the performance of all actors involved. Crowe manages to infuse his character with the decency and intelligence, despite looking like a homeless man with his ragged clothes and wrestler-like hairdo. From the steely, focused glare to the apologetic gaze, Crowe delivers. Another notable performance is from Jason Bateman, who plays a hedonistic, slick but cowardly PR agent that comes into the story somewhere after the ½ way point. No spoilers here, but he is good and it’s a performance to remember. Mirren is Mirren and we shall leave it at that.

The weak link here is Affleck, but it’s forgivable as his role does not have much to work on. McAdams, contrary to what I expect, performs admirably despite being surrounded by the experts. Her character manages to be cute (not in the physical sense, guys) and likable. She played the normally annoying “rookie” role well, but falters when she has to deliver the more dramatic lines.

Speaking of weaknesses, the story has to be one of the weaker parts of the film. This is not saying that it is bad. However, in comparison with the acting and settling, it takes a backseat in terms of notability. This particularly shows in the last twenty minutes of the film. While it is not ridiculous (as some reviewers will put it) and is somewhat foreshadowed (only if you are Sherlock Holmes, otherwise you will never spot it), it fails somewhat to deliver that punch needed for a last-minute plot twist. However, when all is said and done, the story and script is well-paced and witty. It does its job well enough. Despite running for over 2 hours, this viewer never quite got the dreaded “2-hour fatigue” that plagues most long movies.

TL:DR Version: This is a good political thriller, go watch it.