“Good reporters don’t have friends, only sources…”
Right from the get-go, the film opens at full speed as we see a random bag snatcher running from an unidentified pursuer in the middle of a stormy night. The running man then proceeds to get hit by a car, another pedestrianand several other small obstacles before hiding out in an alley. It seems like quite a lucky getaway at first, until our mystery chaser blindsides the culprit with a clean shot, and then follows that up by shooting an innocent bystander who just might have seen too much. We have no idea how any of this connects to the bigger picture yet, but that’s what makes this such an exciting film to watch; just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, something unexpected happens, and you’re back to square one.
Following the explosive opening, we are quickly introduced to the film’s key players. The first one is Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck), who is a rising congressman with a promising future ahead. He’s got a cocky ego that represents everything the public would hope to see in a man of his stature, and with an ambitious outlook on his own defense policies, Collins is like a golden star just waiting to shine for his party’s senator (Jeff Daniels).
Seeing Ben Affleck portray such a character might seem a little odd for most viewers, but this setup actually works very well to his advantage. After directing his brother Casey in the highly overlooked ”Gone Baby Gone” two years ago, Affleck is due for another big shot, and he proves it here in a role that is sure to redeem a few “Bennifer Bombs” from the past.
When one of Collins’ aides (Maria Thayer) is found dead under a subway train, the presidential hopeful is forced to publicly admit that he and the assistant were having an affair prior to her death, thus crippling his entire party’s reputation. Who knew about the affair? Did the aide know something incriminating about some of the party members? And is it just a coincidence that all of this happened right before Collins was scheduled to attend a hearing for a suspicious contractor? Many questions are presented, and a lot of secrets hang in the balance when two investigative reporters are hired to uncover the truth.
The other major player is lead reporter, Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe), who is also Collins’ old roommate from college. Sporting another unlikely haircut, Russell Crowe wrestles with a storm of dilemmas in his role as the head journalist. Aside from guiding a rookie partner (Rachel McAdams) through the process of “damn fine reporting,” McAffrey is also conflicted with saving the reputation of his friend. We know, without even asking, that he’ll have to eventually break the law in order to find some answers, but unlike most reporters, he is extremely adamant about getting the facts straight, and won’t settle for a story that just “sounds good.” Helping a source is one thing, but helping a friend is another… where do journalists draw the line?
Another important figure in this web of corruption is Collins’ loyal wife Anne (Robin Wright Penn), and the mess of emotion that boils between her and the two leading men. Unfortunately, there are a few weak moments where the film introduces a previous romantic fling between Anne and McAffrey. I guess building love triangles is the new holy grail when you have an all-star cast, but in Anne’s defense, should she really trust her husband at this point? I don’t think I would.
The basic plot of the film is presented with a simple ease in the opening segments, but it’s through the underlying complexity of the second act that we get a sense of tension over what’s at stake for every person involved. Obviously the story of the murder is huge, and every reporter in the city would love to sell it before another newspaper gets hold of it, but what if our killer anticipated this obsession? And how would the story ever get published if the killer manages to eliminate every witness?
As we saw in ”The Last King of Scotland,” Kevin Macdonald is a comfortable director who trusts his actors to make something good happen, but the crucial production element of success in this project is owed to the writers. Michael Carnahan (Lions for Lambs), Billy Ray (Breach) and Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton) all have a common understanding of what makes good thrillers work, and because the three of them are known to completely flesh out their characters, this film shows a good mix of talent on many levels.
When it comes to political thrillers, it’s not uncommon to see a recycled formula of globe-trotter settings and post 9/11 issues building the plot. And while this setup can be useful to success at times, it still feels like the genre is often “victimizing” its own installments. ”State of Play” is the first political thriller in years that doesn’t settle for average results. Using an original blend of ”Primal Fear” intensity and Jason Bourne pacing, Macdonald delivers a very solid thriller that could go on to be one of the year’s best. I just hope that my roommate doesn’t grow up to be a congressman, because unless his assistant is found dead at a movie theater, I really don’t think I could help him.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 17 2009. Filed under Reviews.
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