Review

Review Date: 19-April-09
Spoiler Rating: Medium
Juju Judgment: Juicy

State of Play (2009)

The protagonist of State of Play is the catchily named Cal McAffrey, an unkempt and impassioned reporter whose DC newspaper has just been taken over by a money-grubbing conglomerate. The downfall of his vocation becomes a back-burner concern when his old college friend, now a congressman, suffers a public breakdown after learning that the aide with whom he has been having an affair has died. Cal begins to investigate the aide's death and its connection to several local murders and the congressman's crusade against a company that hires out mercenaries to the Pentagon. As the investigation grows, he teams with a colleague with the even niftier name of Della Frye despite differences between them which can be traced to a generation gap. Cal's part in the search opens wounds left by an unresolved romance with his friend the congressman's wife. His story, to say the least, is a tangled web, and as conspiracy thrillers go it is an excellent one.

A fan might praise the writing, editing, and directing of this film, but what struck me most was the authority of headliner Russell Crowe. Here is an actor who embodies the best of star power in a part perfectly suited to his strengths. Crowe looks like he belongs in movies even when playing a slob, but whereas other actors' good looks make them seem as remote as Olympus, the life force he communicates without apparent effort is all the more potent for its earthiness. Whether scarfing down Cheetos, eluding an assassin, or meeting personal and professional showdowns head-on, Cal's personality is utterly credible and thrillingly vital. Even before you find yourself needing to believe in him you are already thoroughly sold.

I might be tempted to contrast Crowe's sweaty charisma with the pinup perfection of Ben Affleck as the congressman were it not that Affleck also shines in a well chosen role. The same can be said for Rachel McAdams as Della, Robin Wright Penn as Affleck's wife, Helen Mirren as the growling taskmaster of the newspaper, and Jason Bateman as a nincompoop who wades in too deep. The only thing holding me back from unqualified jubilation about this movie is its jerky final twist. We are meant to be impressed by the explosive idea that nearly everybody is evil and not just the money-grubbing CEOs and fat cat politicians whom we love to hate. While this news elevates Cal to a pedestal as the one person in Washington who honors truth and justice, its delivery is not as smooth as the rest of the film, and Crowe's presence suffices to render Cal exceptional.

Copyright © 2009 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.