State of Play [Blu-ray], starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren: DVDNear.com

State of Play [Blu-ray]

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DVD Cover Information

Actor: Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Russell Crowe
Brand: CROWE,RUSSELL
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Dubbed); Spanish (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 127 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: 2009-09-01
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios

Movie Reviews of State of Play [Blu-ray]

Movie Review: Five Star Final
Summary: 5 Stars

When this big screen American version of the addictive and celebrated BBC mini-series sank without a sound at the box office, despite a stellar cast, people began writing off the whole notion of the grown-up movie as popular entertainment. Hope the rumors of its death are greatly exaggerated, and by all means catch up with this terrific film.

The story, inspired by the Gary Condit episode, revolves around the apparent suicide of a congressional researcher in the D.C. metro, and how her death is interconnected with her boss (Ben Affleck), the Blackwater-like military outsourcer he's investigating, and two seemingly motiveless street shootings. These crimes are being covered by a reporter for the Post-like Washington Globe, a paunchy and bedraggled throwback played by Russell Crowe. The editor at his newly conglomerate owned paper eventually pairs him up with a blogger from their online arm (Rachel McAdams). These two form an unlikely partnership and their journey from wary colleagues to a cohesive, mutually respectful team, is just one way this film pays tribute to the classic ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN.

Crowe is low-key, yet sensational. His lines touting the power of the press, might be hokey coming from a less compelling actor, but I bought it all from him. He's simply great in what's an old-fashioned star turn. And he builds a wonderful dynamic with McAdams, who deftly shows us her path from smug newbie to resourceful reporter. As usual, she's also completely adorable, with a ravishing smile and a beautiful voice.

The relationship between these two characters, and what they represent in terms of today's media landscape, are the heart of the story, and the issues addressed are really interesting. The film is more a high-tension drama than a thriller. The one kind of suspense set-piece is that old standby, our hero being menaced in an underground garage, another allusion to ATPM. It's well done, if fairly standard, but Crowe does have a pretty novel escape.

The reporter's investigation is complicated by Crowe's friendship with the Congressman under suspicion as well as the congressman's wife, played by Robin Wright-Penn. She's a bit underused compared to her counterpart in the mini-series, but she has some biting and effectively played scenes with Crowe.

I'm not a Ben Affleck hater, but if there's a weak link in the cast, he's it. He's a good seven years too young to be a contemporary of both Crowe and Wright-Penn; their characters all went to college together. And he doesn't convince as a congressman who's going places. More importantly, as the stakes in the story increase, we don't get a sense of his responses escalating with the crisis. He's good, but frankly, everyone else is better. That includes Helen Mirren as the paper's editor, in a role that was originally owned by an in-the-zone Bill Nighy. Jason Bateman brings his serio-comic perfect pitch to the part of a sleazy source, but as in UP IN THE AIR, he's almost too strong a presence to keep playing these cameos.

This is a great D.C. movie, and vividly captures the feel of the city. The production design is also terrific, though it's amusing to note that character's apartments and offices are comically crowded with tchotkis that tell us where they're from. The film also has a really good musical score.

This is a sophisticated entertainment delivered with filmmaking style and well-played scenes that have real dramatic heft. Perhaps it makes a somewhat sentimental case for the press by bringing back the muckraking newspaper picture. But, at the same time the movie doesn't shy away from the fact that the reporter's actions have consequences. They're clearly imperfect and they make mistakes. And despite his lofty justifications, the Crowe character is really pretty anti-heroic in some of his actions. And the underlying conspiracy here is pretty bold in it's real-world implications as well, and pulls fewer punches than more explicitly Iraq War themed films like THE GREEN ZONE.

Crowe's understated magnetism and McAdams high-wattage charm ensure that I'll re-visit this picture again from time-to-time.

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Summary of State of Play [Blu-ray]

Academy Award®-winner Russell Crowe leads an all-star cast, including Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams & Helen Mirren in the blistering thriller about deception, manipulation & corruption. When D.C. Reporter Cal McCaffrey (Crowe) is assigned to investigate the murder of an assistant to an up-and-coming politician (Affleck), he uncovers a conspiracy that threatens to bring down the nation?s power structures. In a town of spin-doctors and wealthy power brokers, he will discover one truth: when fortunes are at stake, no one?s integrity, love or life is safe. From director Kevin Macdonald of The Last King of Scotland, State of Play brings together gripping performances, riveting suspense and is ?sophisticated, intelligent and powerful? (Shawn Edwards, Fox-TV).

The superlative British miniseries becomes a smart, soap opera-free film courtesy The Last King of Scotland's Kevin Macdonald. His writers, including Tony Gilroy (the Bourne series) and Billy Ray (Breach), haven't simply condensed and Americanized the six-hour series--they've reinvented it. Now set in Washington D.C., veteran journalist Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe, replacing Brad Pitt, who dropped out over script changes) still collaborates with editor Cameron Lynne (a delectably imperious Helen Mirren) and junior reporter Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) on a story involving Cal's politico pal, Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck), but there's a new subtext behind their plunge into sex scandals and corporate malfeasance, since this State of Play also eulogizes old-school beat reporting, and in interviews, Macdonald has acknowledged the influence of newsprint classics like All the President's Men (the Watergate Hotel even shows up as a location). So, while Cal and Della, the Globe?s blogger, try to determine whether the congressman?s aide Sonia (with whom he was having an affair) died at her own hands or the hands of another, they're also fighting for their careers and the survival of their ailing paper. Stephen's political rival Senator Fergus (Jeff Daniels), does his best to stymie their efforts, but PR flack Dominic Foy (Jason Bateman) becomes a reluctant ally. Though fans of the series may miss a few characters, like Cameron's son (played by James McAvoy in the BBC version), Oscar-winning documentarian-turned-filmmaker Macdonald remains true to its spirit. Be sure to stay through the poignant end credits, during which he returns to his doc roots. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

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State of Play [Blu-ray]