STATE OF PLAY

US, 2009, 127 minutes, Colour.
Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel Mc Adams, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Michael Berresse, Harry Lennix, Josh Mostel, Michael Weston, Viola Davis, David Harber, Brennan Brown, Wendy Mackenna.
Directed by Kevin Macdonald.

There are any number of fine reasons for seeing State of Play. It is intelligently scripted and directed drama-thriller that is contemporary and relevant.

Adapted from a television series from the UK that was hailed as strong television, the screenplay has been adapted for a United States Congress plot (and other complications). It takes full advantage of DC locations.

The issues are particularly interesting: a congressional hearing on the plans and budgets for a private company to get contracts for all kinds of war needs, from arms to medical care, for Iraq and Afghanistan. The company is made up of former military men who are now virtually mercenaries. Huge money is involved.

A congressman, Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck in a role that suits his rather strong-jaw determined style of acting) is investigating the companies and their links to other contractors as well as their aims to privatise the conduct of war. His researcher is murdered as the film opens. Police investigate as does the Congressman's old room-mate and friend, reporter Cal Mc Caffrey (Russell Crowe almost imperceptibly immersing himself in his role). His publisher is an acid-tongued Helen Mirren. His associate reporter who comes from the paper's blog rather than the print media, but proves her skills, provides a substantial role for Rachel Mc Adams. There are fine supporting performances from Jeff Daniels, also a Congressman, and a particularly effective performance from an actor who has been lately showing versatile skills in Juno and Hancock, Jason Bateman. Robin Wright Penn is Affleck's wronged wife.

The action takes place over only two days which means that it keeps up the pace as step by step more details are revealed: other killings, a military assassin, a hospital shooting, press conferences by the senator, an interrogation of a sleazy PR agent (Bateman), information from an insider to the military company. And there are several plot twists that are not anticipated, at least by this reviewer.

This all means that we are intrigued by the plot and the craft (from former documentary director (One Day in September, Touching the Void) who made a welcome transition to feature films with The Last King of Scotland, Kevin Macdonald. We admire the acting. We are challenged to reflect on the consequences of the war on terror, the invasion of Iraq, the continuing action in Afghanistan – and, particularly, who profits the most from all the contracts? It would be interesting to read former Vice President Cheney's review of the film.

1.A contemporary drama? Relevance? Thriller?

2.The adaptation of the British television series? Transition to Washington DC? The issues of 2008 – Iraq and Afghanistan?

3.Washington DC as the setting: the city itself, the landscapes and cityscapes? The politics? The end of the Bush era? The wars, profiteering? Congressional hearings? Politicians, the role of the army, private companies? Corruption?

4.The Washington locations: the Capitol and the buildings, the Congress buildings, the streets and offices, the authenticity of the feel of the city? The musical score?

5.The opening, the thief, the chase? The shooting by Bingham? The man delivering the pizza? The girl watching? The role of the police? The hospital? The situation and the investigation? The police guarding the victim? The investigation and the clash with the reporters, the editors? The issue of evidence and making it available?

6.Cal Mc Affrey? Russell Crowe’s performance, screen presence? In the car, the slob, eating, singing? Ingratiating himself onto the crime scene? His methods? Getting the story from Donald Bell? The information? Taking it to the paper, discussions with the editor? The talk with Della and his fobbing her off, his attitude towards the blog? Cameron Lynne as publisher? His relationship with the staff? The office atmosphere? The authentic detail of a newspaper office and floor?

7.Sonia, going to the underground, her being killed? The Congressional hearing, telling Stephen of the news? His announcing it to those assembled? The questions of the company, the executive? The nature of the hearings? Sonia as chief investigator? Fergus and Andrew? Their demanding the truth from Stephen? His confession of the affair? The phone call to Anne? Anne talking with Cal? The meeting, the press conference, the advice to Anne to be dignified?

8.Cal, the information, leads? The background of his friendship with Stephen, roommates together, his relationship with Anne, the past? Talking with Stephen? The discussions with Cam, making the connections between the various deaths, speculation? A theory? Getting information from Anne? Getting Della involved in the investigation, the surveillance at the hospital, and her experience of seeing the killer, in the ward, the shootings and her being present? The death of the victim?

9.Fergus, his personality, his control, getting Stephen his job, Stephen indebted to him? Praising him? Cal and the confrontation, exposing Fergus as the link with the company? At the party, discussing Fergus’s relationship with Stephen, the recommendation of Sonia, the name of Sonia’s mother? The issue of Congress, payoffs and bribes?

10.Cam, tough, her admiration for Cal? The pressure from the owners of the paper? News, gossip? Her flying off the handle? Her pressure on the team? Their interactions? The discussions with the police, the lawyer, the issue of evidence? Wanting to print the story, under pressure? Waiting, listening? Her picture of a tough editor publisher?

11.Della and her investigation of Sonia, getting all the details of her life? Photos, goodtime girl? Cal investigating the dead man, at the morgue, getting the numbers from his mobile phone, Sonia answering the phone? The young woman, the soda, stealing his bag, taking him underground, the photos, the gun? Her being murdered?

12.Stephen and his keeping his poise, his relationship with his wife? His confession of his love for Sonia? The attack on the executive and his hard-hitting questions? The reaction of the newspapers? The girl coming forward, speaking of a threesome, wanting to smear his character? Cal and the investigations, inviting Stephen to the motel, his listening to what had been discovered, the attack on Dominic? His coming with Anne to confess the truth to Cam and the staff?

13.Cal and the insider from the company, the meetings, the information, the explanation about the company and the military, the training of the military and their retiring, being mercenaries? Patriotism? The name, Cal going to the hotel, seeing the killer? In the garage, the shooting, the group getting their vehicle, his getting away? The irony of the truth about the killer, seeing him in the photo with Stephen, the truth about his being hired by Stephen, his murdering Sonia? The build-up to the confrontation between Stephen and Cal, telling him the truth, phoning the police? Confronting the killer on the streets, the gun pointed, the police arrival, the shooting?

14.The background of the military, the training of the military, the mercenaries? Their patriotism? Their making money out of the companies?

15.Della, her personality, her work, the phone call in the night, going to look at the surveillance pictures, the discussions with Cal? Unearthing the information about Dominic? Her wanting to be present at the interview? With Dominic, with Stephen? Discovering the truth? The final story? The tape? Cal giving her the primary writing credit?

16.The resolution of the mystery, Stephen’s confession, Anne and the slipping of the information, her supporting her husband? Cal and his realisation of the truth, going to Stephen, in the office, confronting him, the breaking of the friendship, Stephen’s appeal? The police arriving for the arrest? The headlines?

17.The role of newspaper reporters, investigation skills, their egos, the evidence, their twisting the law for their purposes? Going over the bounds? Yet the checks and balances in their work, collaboration with the police, avoiding the police?

18.The strength of the film in the supporting cast: Anne, her relationship with Cal, with her husband, the separation, her asking Cal’s advice, the confession? Dominic, sleazy background, with the company, hiring Sonia? The encounter with Cal, his being abducted, the drinking, the interrogation, the taping? The killer, his friendship with Stephen, Stephen saving his life? His being hired, following Sonia, killing off those who would harm Stephen’s career? The police inspector, information to Cal, exasperation? The investigative team, the Laurel and Hardy style, fat and thin? Their skill at their work, collaboration? The doctor at the morgue, allowing Cal to get his information? Fergus’s assistant, his role in being a minder? An authentic atmosphere around the staff of Stephen and the people who worked in the Congress?