State of Play' brings often ignored issues to the front page in suspenseful film
April 21As many major newspapers in the country sound the death rattle, some are probably wondering whether print journalism holds any real importance in today's world. Fortunately, films like "State of Play" serve to remind the public that journalism is still important to the dissemination of information. Kevin Macdonald, best known for directing Forest Whitaker to Oscar gold in "The Last King of Scotland" (2006), directs "State of Play," a suspense film about the intersection of politics and journalism. Based on the critically acclaimed BBC series of the same name, the film successfully condenses a six-hour mini-series into a two-hour movie. Russell Crowe plays Cal McAffrey, a weathered print journalist with nearly two decades of experience at The Washington Globe. The newspaper, struggling to stay afloat, has recently been bought by a huge corporation only concerned with turning a profit. Cal's interest in the obtaining the truth does not fit well with this change. While Cal is working on a story involving a dead drug runner and an innocent bystander in a coma, a seemingly unrelated incident occurs. A legal researcher is killed in an "accident" in the metro station. But when the dead woman turns out to have had an affair with a popular congressman and an old friend of Cal's, Stephen Collins (played by Ben Affleck), Cal decides to uncover the truth. Cal, however, has to deal with Della Frye (Rachel McAdams), a cub reporter who prefers blogging to actual reporting. The running joke in the film is that Della never has a pen on her when she needs one, highlighting the inability of online journalists to live in the moment the way a print journalist must. As Della and Cal delve into the deaths and political scandal, a greater conspiracy emerges in which everyone involved is implicated. As a suspense film, "State of Play" excels. There is never a moment of boredom. To its credit, the film raises many interesting questions. To its disadvantage, though, there just isn't enough time to thoroughly answer all of them. Similarly, the film touches upon many subjects, such as the current economic climate in journalism, the Internet's role in spreading information, the necessity of making money off of a news story and the importance of remaining objective, but never fully explores them. Throw in political corruption and the deep-seated intersection of politicians and the media, and the viewer feels bombarded with information. It takes a while for the film to settle into a cohesive storyline during the first twenty minutes, but once everything is laid out, the plot becomes quite simple — almost predictable. What keeps the story interesting is the viewer's desire to know what lies underneath outward appearances and who is keeping the biggest secret. As Cal and Della explore each and every possible avenue towards uncovering the truth, the viewer is as compelled as the reporters, unable to stop watching until the complete story is brought to a conclusion. The cast performs relatively well, but compared to some of Crowe's past work, he does only a mediocre job. McAdams doesn't have a lot to work with, but she is an excellent actress. The relationship between Crowe and McAdams provides a refreshing break from the typical Hollywood love story; it definitely is not the typical sexual or romantic chemistry. The supporting cast often outshines the leads. Ben Affleck as the tricky, manipulative senator holds his own next to Crowe. Helen Mirren does an accomplished job as Cameron, the editor-in-chief, a go-between for the greedy corporate heads and the journalists putting in the work. Jason Bateman appears for a short cameo as a drugged-out, fast-talking public relations guy, the missing link in the story. For the fifteen minutes Bateman is on screen, he completely steals the show. "State of Play" relies heavily on dialogue to carry the action and create suspense, going along with the movie's theme of the importance of words. The thriller aspect shines through during chase scenes and shootings, which are equally effective. Macdonald's filming technique also elevates "State of Play" above a typical suspense film. He heightens suspense by shooting from afar or above or below and zooming in for close-ups. The film's cinematography is beautiful, demonstrating Macdonald's ability to create a thriller with some thought behind it. Above all, "State of Play" makes the viewer think about the impact journalism has had in the world. As the final credits roll and Cal's final story goes to the presses, one can't help but admire the effort, love and dedication that goes into one simple article.
