Synopsis
When a congressional aide is killed, a Washington, D.C. journalist starts investigating the case involving the Representative, his old college friend.
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Cast
- Russell CroweCal McAffrey
- Ben AffleckStephen Collins
- Rachel McAdamsDella Frye
- Helen MirrenCameron Lynne
- Robin WrightAnne Collins
- Jason BatemanDominic Foy
- Jeff DanielsGeorge Fergus
- Michael BerresseRobert Bingham
- Harry LennixDet. Donald Bell
- Josh MostelPete
Recommendations
- 91
Entertainment Weekly
Spins a thorny tale of political corruption laced with personal sleaze. - 88
Charlotte Observer
As dense as a Watergate-era newspaper and as immediate as a blog, State of Play is an absolutely riveting state-of-the-art "big conspiracy" thriller. - 75
ReelViews
There's no question that State of Play feels a little rushed and the density of plot can be daunting, but the resulting tale unfolds with an urgency and sense of verisimilitude that will keep most viewers intrigued and involved without losing many along the way. - 75
Chicago Sun-Times
The movie never quite attains altitude. It has a great takeoff, levels nicely, and then seems to land on autopilot. Maybe it's the problem of resolving so much plot in a finite length of time, but it seems a little too facile toward the end. - 75
Miami Herald
Co-written by Tony Gilroy, who penned the tricky "Michael Clayton" and the even trickier "Duplicity," State of Play displays its savvy without being quite so showy. - 70
Variety
In the end, though, it's Crowe who must carry the most freight, which he does with another characterization to relish. Still bulky, although not as much so as in "Body of Lies," long-tressed and somewhat grizzled, he finds the gist of the affable eccentricity, natural obsessiveness and mainstream contrarianism that marks many professional journalists. - 67
Austin Chronicle
It neither embarrasses the original, nor is superior to it in any way. - 60
New York Magazine (Vulture)
It's tricky, it's surprising, and it's largely faithful to the original mini-series, but in context it's a nonevent. It's like a time bomb that's never dismantled but never explodes. The movie is good enough that the ending leaves you … not angry, exactly. Unfulfilled.
