State of Play (2009)

Directed by Kevin Macdonald. Starring Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Robin Wright, Helen Mirren, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Harry Lennix, Josh Mostel, Michael Beresse. [R]

Journalist Crowe teams up with news blogger McAdams to investigate a couple of murders that may be related to the apparent suicide of a staff member working for Congressman Affleck, an old friend of Crowe’s. Adaptation of a six-hour BBC television serial condenses a lot of plot (too much, in fact), sacrificing the character detail and logical progression needed to sell this kind of heady political thriller. Reasonably engaging for a while, with the requisite twists and developments suggesting shadowy conspiracies and untrustworthy allies, but around the time that Crowe is hanging off the side of an SUV while dodging gunfire, it all starts spiraling out of control, going at least one serpentine step too far at the end, and landing with a whimper rather than a bang. Good cast does a decent job, though Affleck is a bit too young to be easily believed as Crowe’s former college roommate. Viola Davis appears briefly.

54/100