John’s Movie Musings

Here’s a movie that went completely under my radar.  It came out in April this year and quickly disappeared (I had to look that up because I don’t remember it at all).  That’s a shame because it’s a pretty decent movie with a competent cast.  And yes, Ben Affleck is in it.

State of Play is your typical government conspiracy thriller.  They’re sort of like the cinematic equivalent of asparagus.  The stuff is usually good, but not something you can have two nights in a row.  It quickly becomes the most disgusting thing on earth.  Or maybe that’s just me.

So State of Play.  Yeah, it’s enjoyable.  Russell Crowe plays an old guard newspaper reporter who happens to be best friends with a sleazy congressman (Affleck).  Crowe teams up with a “blogger,” who works for the paper’s online division, to investigate things that don’t seem as they should.  Rachel McAdams plays the blogger and while she can only be described with words like “plucky” or “spunky,” the relationship between print and online is played out pretty well. I think that’s a first for Hollywood.

Obviously with conspiracy thrillers you’re going to get a few twists.  Most in State of Play work out great, but I had trouble connecting all the dots at the end.  I think it all works out logically, but the editor maybe cut out a few too many scenes while wrapping things up.  You might be left scratching your head at the end, but it’s a fun ride up until then.  Rent it.

Grade: B-