STATE OF PLAY

STATE OF PLAY (Universal Pictures)
Directed by Kevin MacDonald

Politics in Hollywood are more prevalent than people realize and I’m not just talking about when an actor that should have won doesn’t at the Oscars, in favor of someone else that fits into some political agenda. The politics I am speaking of cover what our country is or isn’t doing at home or abroad. Yes, the things no one really wants to talk about or think of, because when you do, it becomes too real to handle, right? I know for many people this is the case, which is why they will look the other way when any film centering on some political conspiracy that rips at the heart of our governments’ right of path, gets released. But, whether these stories come from books or otherwise, these theories are typically based on researched facts, right or wrong. And at least where I come from, if you throw enough exaggerated truths at the wall, eventually a few of them will stick. That in itself is why films like STATE OF PLAY get written and released to the big screen. It’s not because the producer or director has some “political agenda;” it’s because what they do have is one very legitimate story worth watching and maybe even learning from. That’s not to say films like STATE OF PLAY are meant to teach, but if I can enjoy a good political thriller and learn something new, that’s all the better. Bottom line is, I am there to be entertained, and this film does just that, plus some.

It’s a good thing governments aren’t perfect, or we would never see stories like the one here scratch the surface. Adapted from the very popular BBC miniseries in 2003, the story follows a congressman by the name of Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck), who among other things, is an up-an-coming voice for his party and one they saw fit to be chairman for a committee on defense spending. But, right when Collins was hitting his stride, he found out one of his assistants, one in which he had been having an affair with, had been killed. Next thing he knew, he was hit with a firestorm of allegations and media attention, which was anything but warranted at the time. Nevertheless, Collins sought out one of his only friends for help, an old college buddy, now Washington Globe writer, by the name of Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe), who ironically was the investigative reporter assigned to work on this controversy surrounding the death of Collins’ assistant. But, as McAffrey got closer and closer to finding out who was behind all this, the plot deepened and spiraled out of control, as this was not your ordinary government cover-up when it was all said and done.

When you start to breakdown the cast in STATE OF PLAY, it truly becomes a “who’s who” as so many quality actors are involved. It starts with Russell Crowe, who in my mind can make any role scream, but here found comfort in his subtle role as Cal McAffrey. And the funny thing is, Brad Pitt was slated to play the same exact role, before dropping out days before production was due to begin. Not sure why that was, but I for sure didn’t mind as Crowe had no issues fitting into the role and once again showing his endless range as an actor. And whether or not he got word of the role the same time of Pitt dropping out, for him to step in and do this good of a job is a testament to what he’s about and why he is among the best of our generation. Equaling that sentiment were several other players like Jeff Daniels, Rachel McAdams and Helen Mirren, who all fit right into the mix without disruption. And that’s important, because sometimes when you get a list of actors like this together for a movie, it doesn’t always pan out. Here it did and each time any one of them stepped into the scene, they left an impression, which is all you can ask for from supporting roles.

We even had a Robin Wright Penn sighting, which is rare these days and frankly, I wish there was more of her, as it was almost a waste to only have her in a few scenes, playing the wife of Ben Affleck’s Stephen Collins. And speaking of Affleck, wow, this might be the return of the man that was set to turn Hollywood upside down some eight years ago after his breakthrough performance in PEARL HARBOR. I think we all know the story of why this hasn’t happened for Ben, but he was truly a breath of fresh air here, commanding the screen each time he entered, which was impressive considering all the talent around him. That being said, the one man that stole the show in spots, with extremely limited screen time was Jason Bateman. This guy is like a fine wine, as he just gets better and better as time moves on and here he was absolutely brilliant. Sure, it was a small role and one that was limited, but Bateman gets it and for some reason is just so comfortable in these supporting roles. Maybe that’s his niche, but either way, I love seeing him pop in and out of films like this, as he just has a way of making you laugh and feel comfortable all at the same time.

Say what you want about political thrillers, but to me, they are some of the best stories to watch, as they will find a way to tickle something within you, good or bad. Directed by Kevin MacDonald, STATE OF PLAY might look like just another version of some other political thriller from the past, but it’s not in my mind. In fact, given the underlying storyline involving government spending and privately-owned defense organizations, I think its spot on with a lot of its content. Plus, to then highlight the current state of print journalism, for better or worse was great, as we have all witnessed the slow, yet sloppy migration of news from paper to the internet. That being said, Macdonald respected the business that was at the center of this story, often cutting to classic shots of what is your typical media floor at any paper, yet showing the power journalists have to spin the truth into a story, no matter if it’s right or wrong. A scary fact for many, I’m sure, but one I was glad to see in a film based around government cover-ups and wrongdoings. How true or not this story is may be up for interpretation, but the right direction was there and overall, I couldn’t find much to be unhappy with.

I guess even a new regime in Washington D.C. can’t change how quickly a film comes and goes, when the topic is based on or around some potential government cover-up or controversy. STATE OF PLAY proves there are still some stories worth telling, and with a cast like this, it would be a shame to pass up this political thriller, as it keeps you involved from start to finish in a way you couldn’t have imagined.

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