Synopsis: In State of Play, an investigative journalist becomes embroiled in a gigantic cover-up as he works on the story of a congressman’s murdered mistress.
Release Date: April 17, 2009 MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre(s): Thriller, Drama
Film Review
Production
State of Play provides a great mystery and plenty of twists and turns that keep you fully engaged and wanting more. With a cast of characters that are likable and also detestable, given the circumstance; and a backstory among them that is wholly unexpected but only makes for great entertainment, State of Play is well worth the 2-plus hours you spend in the theater.
Production Design
It is of the utmost importance in State of Play to show the type of journalist that is Cal McAffrey. This is done in one moment through the production design. His desk is a complete cluttered mess. Piled high with books, papers that will never be filed, large amounts of files and clippings and notes it looks like absolute chaos. It is the epitome of disorganization, and speaks volumes as to the type of journalist we are dealing with in State of Play; he is not tidy and neat, he is dirty, in the sense that he will dig deep into a story until he is satisfied. Leaving little, if any, regard for all other matters. His world is disheveled because he is always on the go, and has much more important things to do than filing. This is all revealed in one simple look through the lens at the area he inhabits.
Cast and Crew
- Director(s): Kevin Macdonald
- Producer(s) and Screenwriter: Matthew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilroy, Billy Ray
- Cast: Russell Crowe (Cal McAffrey), Ben Affleck (Stephen Collins), Rachel McAdams (Della Frye), Helen Mirren (Cameron Lynne), Robin Wright Penn (Anne Collins), Jason Bateman (Dominic Foy)
- Other Crew: Justine Wright, Rodrigo Prieto, Mark Friedberg, Jacqueline West, Alex Heffes
- Country Of Origin: USA, UK
