Weekend Review: State of Play

"State of Play" has the feel of a classic 70s-style political drama, yet it just misses the mark of its more successful and cogent predecessors. Think - "All the President's Men". But director Kevin McDonald does not deliver a classic of that caliber. Kevin McDonald showed his prowess in guiding the 2006 critically acclaimed film "The Last King of Scotland". The movie was filmed Instead "State of Play" about a crusading newspaperman who seeks to uncover a murder-sex scandal involving an up-and-coming politician is a rather predictable series of plot twists and complex turns.

A significant part of the film's problem is that it is a work of adaptation. It was actually adapted from a six-hour 2003 BBC miniseries by the same name. There is a limited amount of time to chock the film to the brim with fragmented details and not-so-subtle clues in hopes of elevating the audience to a masterful climax. But as an audience member, I connected the pieces long-before what was supposed to be a stunning climax. So I sat around in the dark - waiting for the film to finish, feeling every bit disappointed.

I have to admit, even though the intersection between investigative journalism and political scandal is certainly not a new dynamic, the film is however rather successful in broaching the problem of the changing face and state of print journalism. Slovenly and scruffy Russell Crowe plays Cal McAffrey, a reporter for the Washington Globe (read: Post) who is pursing what appears to be a standard drug deal gone bad. Representing the older generation of classic print journalists he is amongst many who have to stand witness to what seems like the slow and eventual death of their industry, of their life’s' work. Rachel McAdams plays Della Frye, an eager-beaver online blogger who is interested in uncovering the salacious sexual gossip of a Capitol Hill researcher, dead in a train accident, to her boss, Congressman Stephen Collins, played by Ben Affleck. Affleck is of course at the center of the bourgeoning scandal which threatens to derail his promising future in politics. The incomparable Helen Mirren plays the hard-hitting newspaper editor rounds out this all-star cast.

But there is something about the cast dynamics that just feels off. Also, I was completely distracted by the obvious age difference of Affleck's and Crowe's characters - they were supposed to have been roommates in college. Really? Russell Crowe has a solid decade on Affleck and it shows. Not only in comparing more youthful physical attributes but also in comparing acting chops as. Affleck's smooth youthful good looks versus Crowe's ruggedness is just too obvious of juxtaposition. Though Crowe can take the role of a handsome leading man with ease, he is essentially a character actor who manages to make the audience forget that he was Maximus. Affleck looks as if he stepped off of the red carpet and found himself suddenly just playing at the role. His character is vapid (References: 2006: "Gigli". Can't escape it Ben. Or 2009: "He's Just Not That Into You”), lacking the complex seedy, slickness that makes the stuffs of a truly great politician.

"State of Play" is rated PG-13. You can check it out, if you really want to at AMC Loews in Georgetown. The film is set and was filmed right here in Washington, DC. You will undoubtedly see familiar landmarks and play the "ohh-I-saw that-place-in-the-movie" game or the "I-totally-know-where-that-is" game on the way back from Georgetown. Ticket prices are $10.75. Or you could save your cash, invest 50 cents into an extra copy or two of the Washington Post and do your small part to save a dying industry.

-Shawn Willis