State of Play

Name: State of Play
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: April 17, 2009
Duration: 127 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Russell Crowe

2009

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 157 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 157 Ratings

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State Of Play

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: April 17, 2009 | PG-13

Starring: Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Russell Crowe

Summary: Handsome, unflappable U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins is the future of his political party: an honorable appointee who serves as the chairman of a committee overseeing defense spending. All eyes are upon the rising star to be his party's contender for the upcoming presidential race. Until his research assistant/mistress is brutallyHandsome, unflappable U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins is the future of his political party: an honorable appointee who serves as the chairman of a committee overseeing defense spending. All eyes are upon the rising star to be his party's contender for the upcoming presidential race. Until his research assistant/mistress is brutally murdered and buried secrets come tumbling out. McAffrey has the dubious fortune of both an old friendship with Collins and a ruthless editor, Cameron, who has assigned him to investigate. As he and partner Della try to uncover the killer's identity, McAffrey steps into a cover-up that threatens to shake the nation's power structures. And in a town of spin-doctors and wealthy politicos, he will discover one truth: when billions are at stake, no one's integrity, love or life is ever safe. (Universal Pictures)… Expand

Director: Kevin Macdonald

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 127 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Premiere Rob Calvert

This is a smart script. There is a wealth of twists, but none of them have to beat you over the head. Read full review

Carrie Rickey

Acting-wise, the showstopper is Jason Bateman, with a diabolically entertaining turn as a smarmy PR man remarkably free with confidential information. Read full review

Dan Jolin

Once you get over the unlikelihood of Affleck and Crowe as buddies, State Of Play stands as a sterling thriller, benefiting from admirable convictions and an arguable return to form by Russell Crowe. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

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. Read full review

Scott Tobias

Though solidly plotted and executed all around, the film, too, feels like a quaint relic from another era, aping the form of journalistic thrillers like "All The President’s Men" while missing much of their urgency. Read full review

David Denby

Crowe has an animal quickness and sensitivity, a threatening way of penetrating what someone is up to, a feeling for weakness in friends as well as opponents. He seems every inch a great journalist; it's not his fault that the filmmakers let the big story slip through their fingers. Read full review

Kyle Smith

State of Play is bordered by the states of absurdity and cliché. Read full review

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User Reviews

raciocinio

Dec 15, 2017

.........................................................................................................................................Russell Crowe killed with a great performance

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JudithW

Apr 17, 2009

I really enjoyed this movie. What a great pleasure to have a well acted and well written adult film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

ChrisC

Apr 19, 2009

This film is based upon an intriguing story, it has a fascinating script, and some great acting performances. It is Ben Affleck's standout performance of his career, and one which shows he has finally stepped out of the whole 'Bennifer' & Gigi shadow. The more investigation This film is based upon an intriguing story, it has a fascinating script, and some great acting performances. It is Ben Affleck's standout performance of his career, and one which shows he has finally stepped out of the whole 'Bennifer' & Gigi shadow. The more investigation is done by Russell Crowes character the deeper the mystery gets. The twists are amazing, but are nicely understated. 9/10 from me. I notice some of the weaker critics reviews are carried out by the bloggers that the film does have a sly dig at, by hinting, and then showing how they are not real journalists.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

ChadS

Apr 21, 2009

To underline the increasing irrelevance of the newspaper in our everyday lives, the filmmaker shrewdly undercuts Cal McAffrey's bloated sense of self-worth with editing choices which democratizes the working relationship that the seasoned reporter has with "His Online Girl Friday". In To underline the increasing irrelevance of the newspaper in our everyday lives, the filmmaker shrewdly undercuts Cal McAffrey's bloated sense of self-worth with editing choices which democratizes the working relationship that the seasoned reporter has with "His Online Girl Friday". In another era, when newspapers were thriving, this subdued scene would have been much ado about something. As Cal(Russell Crowe) pulls Della Frye(Rachel McAdams) out of a meeting, her online colleagues give her only a cursory look and continue forward with their conversations without the slightest notion of envy visible on their faces. By the standards of the past, Della, a blogger(an intern of sorts), is a proper journalist now, but as the cub reporter speaks to her experienced mentor, nobody behind the glassed-in conference room looks all that impressed. A lot has changed in the fifteen years since Ron Howard's "The Paper" was released into theaters. "State of Play" is a love letter to the newspaper industry, but if you read between the lines, it reads like a "Dear John" letter. Case and point: a veteran writer such as Cal, in all likelihood, would be hesitant to share his byline with a rookie, but "State of Play" has cheating on its mind. While it sings the praises of old school journalism, the film privileges the enemy, the blogger, by giving her more credit than she deserves. Cal doesn't give Della co-authorship on his article, "State of Play" does. Finally, when Cal leaves the newsroom, his triumphant walk pass the cubicles is spoiled, as Della hogs some of his spotlight, symbolically denying hard news journalists like Cal and his ilk, a graceful bow from the public sector.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

asthobaskoro

Apr 30, 2011

I think it's gonna be great political thriller if still 'keep low'. State of Play deliver slow-paced, twist and well-acted but I think a little cliche.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LevelsAndGear

Dec 27, 2011

"State Of Play" one line review!

Just saw "State of Play". Fairly slow, well acted, ok script. It was above average. Worth seeing, but probably forgettable in the long run.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

IRONK1979

Jan 30, 2018

A slow and boring movie. Russell Crowe's performance is the only redeeming thing about it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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