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State of Play
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State of Play (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 43 | slideshow) Videos (see all 25)
State of Play (2009) -- Picture-perfect U.S. congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) seems to be the rising star in the world of politics -- until his research assistant, who was also his mistress, is murdered. And then the secrets start coming out...
State of Play (2009) -- Clip: Cal comforts Della after she witnesses a shooting
State of Play (2009) -- IGN chats with Crowe, Affleck and McAdams about the political thriller.
State of Play (2009) -- Interview: Rachel McAdams "On Della's ambitions"
State of Play (2009) -- Picture-perfect U.S. congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) seems to be a rising star -- until his research assistant, who was also his mistress, is murdered. Can a star reporter (Crowe) and his co-hort (McAdams) uncover the truth?

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   24,042 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Matthew Michael Carnahan (screenplay) and
Tony Gilroy (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for State of Play on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 April 2009 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Find The Truth
Plot:
A team of investigative reporters work alongside a police detective to try to solve the murder of a congressman's mistress. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
User Comments:
State of Play, see the feature film, but be sure to see the BBC miniseries, too more (160 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Jeux de pouvoir (France)
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MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some violence, language including sexual references, and brief drug content.
Runtime:
127 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director Kevin Macdonald considered asking Bill Nighy to reprise his role of Cameron but decided to make the character a female instead. Helen Mirren was then cast. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Cal goes to the apartment which soon leads up to the garage seen, the shooter comes down the hallway with a laundry basket in which his left hand is gripping the brim of the basket and his right hand is holding the bottom, when is cuts back to Cal we see no movement of the shooter, but in the next shot the shooter is holding the brim with both hands, then in the next shot it goes back to him holding the bottom. more
Quotes:
Det. Donald Bell: [to approaching reporter] Whatever you're sellin', I ain't buyin'. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "This Morning: (2009-04-21)" (2009) more
Soundtrack:
Long As I Can See The Light more

FAQ

How does the film compare to the TV series?
What does it say on the card that Cal gives Majority Whip George Fergus at the ballet?
How does Cal make the connection between Deshaun, Sonia, and PointCorp?
more
78 out of 119 people found the following comment useful.
State of Play, see the feature film, but be sure to see the BBC miniseries, too, 13 April 2009
7/10
Author: videobrooklyn from United States

I attended a pre-release screening of the new film, State of Play, with anticipation of seeing both quality work from actor Russell Crowe and screenwriter Tony Gilroy. I also entered the theater with a degree of apprehension about how well this feature length film would measure up to the brilliantly acted and crafted six-part BBC series that was the basis for the film. Crowe well-embodied the tenacious old-school investigative journalist that we've come to know from classics, such as "All the President's Men." However, the multifaceted ensemble of journalists, portrayed by a rich range of actors from the BBC series (John Simm, Kelly MacDonald, James McAvoy), is missing from this feature film where Russell Crowe does all the work. The complexity of the plot, which includes the competing professional interests and emotional needs of the characters in the British miniseries, is largely eliminated in this big screen version. Ben Affleck and Robin Wright Penn do not seem to appreciate and respond to the high stakes events that could turn their lives inside out and upside down. What this film shares with the miniseries is the glimpse into the mechanics of running a journalistic investigation under the pressure of time and editorial interference, but the personal stories suffer from not being fleshed out and made to feel real and compelling to watch. It is not fair to compare one piece of art to another, but when two productions are related, and you've seen the original, it is difficult to view the second production without prejudice. It is like trying to unring a bell.

The new film, State of Play, is a convincing thriller, but it fails to also deliver as a richly defined character drama.

Curiosity will drive those who saw the BBC series to see this film, and the rich pedigree of the film production will draw in those who know nothing about the original miniseries. Everyone will ultimately be satisfied by seeing both productions (miniseries is on DVD) so that they can make the comparisons and connections that any thinking film-goer will want to do.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for State of Play (2009)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Did anyone else have a hard time with the mumbling? gs-web
Please explain the entire storyline and the changes in it that occur farexander1
Even Ben Affleck was not too bad in this.... hannahp1
Mirren's acting angel-591
Motive?? larrynmn
Jason Bateman... dukemdm
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