State of Play

Actually went to a movie on opening day, for a change!
State of Play is a brilliant, labyrinthian thriller the sort of which Hollywood hasn't made in years. true, it's been compared to ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, and it certainly shares some similarities. The truth of the matter is that this genre film has sadly found itself incorrectly categorized as "dated". The medium, not the message. Journalism Version 2.0
The dividing line between the old and the new (Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams, respectively) is presented matter-of-factly in the first reel of the film. While Crowe embodies the grizzled, old-school print journalist, his polar opposite is represented by McAdams' news blogger. Nearly 30 years ago, MTV redefined cinema and television editing for short attention spans, and now the journalism industry (and it is, we learn, an industry) has finally caught up. Not a good thing, necessarily. The inherent battle between old and new is put to the test once two seemingly random deaths are surprisingly linked, launching this political thriller into orbit. Who do you trust? How far will you go to get a story? How important are the facts WITHIN the story? That is the real treat that State of Play offers up. Obviously, a stellar cast shines in this adaptation of a British mini-series. Helen Mirren is brilliant as the ballsy Brit editor, and McAdams is a treat in her best role to date. The film belongs to Russell Crowe, though, and it is his complicated relationship with Ben Affleck's embroiled senator that gives State Of Play its energy and spark. That Crowe's journalist is ultimately vindicated comes as no great surprise; the journey itself is what fascinates us. Great flick!