"STATE OF PLAY" (2009) Review
"STATE OF PLAY" (2009) Review
Twenty years ago, the BBC had aired a six-part miniseries about a London journalist who investigated the death of a young aide for a Member of Parliament, who also happened to be the journalist's friend. The miniseries not only became a critical and ratings hit, but it also spawned a Hollywood remake - the 2009 political thriller by the same title called "STATE OF PLAY".
Directed by Kevin MacDonald, "STATE OF PLAY" told the story about a Washington D.C. newspaper's investigation into the death of a young congressional aide named Sonia Baker and centered around the relationship between leading journalist Cal McAffrey and his old friend Robert Collins, a U.S. congressman on the fast track and Baker’s employer. When Congressman Collins learned of his aide’s death, he asked his old friend McAffrey to investigate her death when it is labeled as a suicide. McAffrey and a journalist-blogger with his newspaper named Della Frye not only discovered that Baker was Congressman Collins’ mistress, but also a possible connection between her death and the private military company that the congressman was investigating.
I have heard a few proclaim that the original British miniseries is superior to this version. I have seen the miniseries. I must admit that I found it impressive, but . . . I cannot agree that it was better. However, I cannot say the same about this movie remake. I found both versions to be flawed, yet very entertaining, engrossing and impressive. As for this movie, Kevin Macdonald’s solid direction; screenwriters Matthew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilroy, Peter Morgan, and Billy Ray created a tight thriller filled with interesting glimpses into the press and Washington politics. I doubt that this film will ever be critically acclaimed like the British miniseries, and it never earned any prominent award nominations. I feel this a pity, because I believe it was a pretty solid and well-acted movie filled with point-on drama, political intrigue and first-rate performances. And the story did not end on a disappointing note. As far as I am concerned, both the 2003 miniseries and the 2009 movie are equal in quality.
Russell Crowe led the cast, portraying Washington Globe journalist, Cal McAffrey. I would not consider his role as interesting as the Ed Hoffman character from "BODY OF LIES", Jeffrey Wigand in "THE INSIDER" or his Oscar winning role in "GLADIATOR" - Maximus Decimus Meridius. His Cal McAffrey was on the surface, an affable, yet slightly jaded reporter who became a relentless truth-seeker when pursuing a special story.
In the case of Sonia Baker, McAffrey’s relentless investigation seemed rooted in his desire to extract his friend Collins from the gossip slingers over the latter’s affair with the aide and focus upon bringing down the private military company being investigated by Collins. Crowe was at turns relaxed and at the same time, intense and single-minded in his pursuit of journalistic truth.
Over a decade ago, I had found myself thinking that if there was ever a remake of the 1950 classic, "SUNSET BOULEVARD", who could portray the doomed Hollywood screenwriter, Joe Gillis. The first person that immediately came to my mind was Ben Affleck. Actress Nancy Olson once described William Holden at the time that particular movie was filmed as the typical handsome Hollywood leading actor . . . but with a touch of corruption that made his Joe Gillis so memorable. Frankly, I could say the same about Affleck. I saw him display this same trait in movies like "HOLLYWOODLAND" and "THE TOWN". And I could see it in his performance as Congressman Robert Collins. Affleck managed to skillfully project Collins not only as a dedicated crusader who is determined to bring down the private military company with a congressional investigation, but also a flawed man who became sexually attracted to his beautiful aide, while struggling to control his anger at the knowledge of his wife Anne’s past affair with McAffrey.
The rest of the cast included Rachel McAdams’ first-rate portrayal of a popular blogger turned junior political reporter named Della Frye, who found herself in the midst of the career-making story and mentored by McAffrey. Helen Mirren’s Washington Globe editor Cameron Lynne was wonderfully splashy and strong, without being over-the-top. I could say the same for Jason Bateman’s performance as a bisexual fetish club promoter named Dominic Foy, who has the information that McAffrey and Frye need. Michael Berresse portrayed a mysterious hitman named Robert Bingham and he did a pretty good job. However, I must admit that I found his performance as a sociopath a little over-the-top . . . especially in his last scene. Although not as memorable as some of the other supporting cast, both Harry Lennix as a stalwart Washington D.C. cop, Jeff Daniels as Affleck’s manipulative congressional mentor and David Harbour as a whistleblower gave solid support to the movie. And there was Robin Wright Penn, who portrayed the congressman’s wife, Anne Collins. Penn gave a complex performance as the politician’s wife who was not only hurt and betrayed by her husband’s infidelity but wracked with guilt over her own past indiscretion with McAffrey, along with her lingering desire for him.
If you are expecting "STATE OF PLAY" to be the next "ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN" or "SEVEN DAYS IN MAY", you are going to be slightly disappointed. I have seen better quality political films. But I can honestly say that I still found "STATE OF PLAY" to be an excellent and entertaining movie filled with intelligence, humor and a strong and steady cast.