State of Play
This much anticipated remake of the BBC TV series (of the same name), is a political thriller about a team of investigative reporters who work alongside a police detective to solve the murder of a congressman's mistress.
A top notch cast includes Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck and Helen Mirren. If that's not enough to blow your socks off, just look at the impressive bunch of people who made it... Director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland) helms a scipt co-authored by Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Ultimatum), Matthew Michael Carnahan (The Kingdom) and Billy Ray (Shattered Glass). Shot by Rodrigo Prieto (Brokeback Mountain), produced by Tim Bevan (Atonement).
- Director:
- Kevin Macdonald ('The Last King of Scotland', 'Touching the Void', 'One Day in September')
- Writer:
- Tony GilroyMatthew Michael CarnahanBilly Ray
- Cast:
- Rachel McAdamsBen AffleckRussell CroweJason BatemanRobin Wright PennHelen MirrenViola DavisJeff Daniels
Reviews & comments
Variety
pressIn 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.
Total Film
pressA twisty substantial thriller, faithfully adapted from a standout BBC mini-series. It’s not as exceptional as its source but the changes implemented mostly enhance rather than harm the story.
The New York Times
pressA superficially clever, self-important and finally incoherent thriller.
Roger Ebert
pressThe 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.
New Zealand Herald
pressFitfully engaging political thriller wastes good source material.
Newshub
pressWith such a great story forming the backbone of this, it would have been a travesty to get it wrong. While it lacks the slow build of tension, and the character and relationship texture and back-story that six hours of television has the time and freedom to build, the film manages to condense State of Play into a pretty compelling few hours in the cinema.
Los Angeles Times
pressSomehow when State of Play should be at its stomach-clenching best, the tension simply evaporates.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThere is nothing we haven't seen here before in terms of chases, intrigue and betrayals, so for all its A-list cast and production values, the film comes off as routine.
Empire Magazine
pressOnce 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.
Dominion Post
pressIf you are of a mood for a well-put-together and absorbing thriller, you should not be disappointed.
Give it a miss
For a die-hard Russell Crowe fan this movie was disappointing. He should have stayed at home and watched the Rabbitohs. Russell Crowe and Helen Mirren are "over-cast". The roles are too slight. Anyone could have played them. There is no room for their characters to develop or show a range of emotions or even act. Ben Affleck fitted his part, but there was...
Variety
pressIn 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.
Total Film
pressA twisty substantial thriller, faithfully adapted from a standout BBC mini-series. It’s not as exceptional as its source but the changes implemented mostly enhance rather than harm the story.
The New York Times
pressA superficially clever, self-important and finally incoherent thriller.
Roger Ebert
pressThe 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.
New Zealand Herald
pressFitfully engaging political thriller wastes good source material.
Newshub
pressWith such a great story forming the backbone of this, it would have been a travesty to get it wrong. While it lacks the slow build of tension, and the character and relationship texture and back-story that six hours of television has the time and freedom to build, the film manages to condense State of Play into a pretty compelling few hours in the cinema.
Los Angeles Times
pressSomehow when State of Play should be at its stomach-clenching best, the tension simply evaporates.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThere is nothing we haven't seen here before in terms of chases, intrigue and betrayals, so for all its A-list cast and production values, the film comes off as routine.
Empire Magazine
pressOnce 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.
Dominion Post
pressIf you are of a mood for a well-put-together and absorbing thriller, you should not be disappointed.
Give it a miss
For a die-hard Russell Crowe fan this movie was disappointing. He should have stayed at home and watched the Rabbitohs. Russell Crowe and Helen Mirren are "over-cast". The roles are too slight. Anyone could have played them. There is no room for their characters to develop or show a range of emotions or even act. Ben Affleck fitted his part, but there...
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