My new release pick for this week was the political/journalistic thriller, "State of Play." And it certainly did not disappoint.
A few things attracted me to this film: the journalist and blogger main characters and that it took place in Washington, D.C., where I'm from. Many scenes were filmed there, and anyone from the area or who has visited will appreciate the shots of Georgetown, Ben's Chili Bowl, the Metro and other noticeable D.C. landmarks.
The film starts with a man running through Georgetown, clearly from someone or something. That someone ends up shooting him in a back alley, picking up the metal briefcase the he was carrying before shooting a pizza deliveryman on a bike, a witness to the first shooting. The running man ("DeShawn") dies, while the pizza man lies in a coma. The shooter gets away.
We are then introduced to Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe, "Gladiator"), the epitome of old-school journalist: he wears an old suit, drives a 1990 Saab, has long hair, sings and eats while driving, yet has the street smarts to be a quality reporter with good connections. He starts investigating the double-shooting, not getting very far, before he heads to the office.
We then meet Rep. Stephen Collins, a Congressman leading a panel investigating corruption charges against PointCorp, a military defense company that is virtually "mercenaries for hire" in the same vein as Blackwater. Just before the day's hearing is set to begin, Collins learns that one of his aides, Sonia Baker, died earlier that morning in a Metro accident. Baker was Collins top researcher for the hearing. Collins is clearly upset during the hearing, and bloggers immediately start to speculate a romantic relationship between Baker and Collins, which turns out to be true. Collins is shamed, and plastered on all the news station.
McAffrey sees Collins on the news, and we learn that the two were roommates in college, and supposedly good friends. They meet later that night, and McAffrey has reason to believe Baker's death, ruled a suicide, and the shooting at the beginning of the move may be connected. That's all I'll give you, but it takes off from there.
The investigative journalism is great, and its a good story full of twists and corruption. The rest of the cast is great as well: Rachel McAdams as Della Frye, McAffrey's colleague and blogger; Helen Mirren as the Globe's editor; and Jason Bateman and Jeff Daniels in somewhat smaller roles. If you like suspense/thrillers/mysterious, you'll like this film.
"State of Play" is directed by Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland") and is rated PG-13 for language and some violence. It is available on DVD at Crazy Mike's. The film was taken from a 6 part British mini-series in 2003, and I hope to watch that and possibly compare the two. I'll keep you updated.
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