Rated PG-13 mostly for language and some mild violence, this is my kind of movie. It’s a who-dunnit murder-political-conspiracy flick centered around an investigative journalist who will stop at nothing.
State of Play very much reminds me of All The President’s Men, and in fact that’s intentional. Some of the scenes even center around the now infamous Watergate Hotel. But everything else about the plot is squarely set in the politics and issues of the day. With a fantastic cast featuring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels, and Jason Bateman, this movie sucks you in and keeps you there. The acting is very good and believable which I attribute as much to the director as to the cast. Russell Crowe plays the journalist who won’t even allow old friendships to stand in the way of uncovering the truth. I’m a complete sucker for this sort of thing anyway and have fancied myself as a potential investigative journalist, but setting my own preferences and fantasies aside, Crowe’s performance is excellent in this movie. The interplay between his character and that of his editor played by Helen Mirren is entertaining and also believable.
If you enjoy a good mystery laced with conspiracy undertones and the search for truth, and is clean enough to let most of the kids watch, you’ll love this movie.
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