So, in April 2009, along comes “State of Play”.  A Hollywood, big budget, star-laden remake of a critically acclaimed and award winning 6-part BBC series dealing with the cover-ups and backroom dealings of our elected officials, and the media’s right to uncover, expose, and report on all of it.

“State of Play” begins with the mysterious death of a young researcher, Sonia Baker, in a terrible accident in the D.C. subway, which initially appears to be a suicide.  As the story breaks, well-respected Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) halts a press conference to report on the news and is reduced to tears in relaying the news of the young woman’s death.  Washington Globe reporter Cal McCaffrey (Russell Crowe) employs his contacts and sources to uncover the fact that Collins relationship with Sonia Baker may not be all that professional and the story and the relationship between Collins and Baker becomes a national political scandal.  When the married Congressman admits to having an affair with Ms. Baker, the groundwork is laid for a labyrinth of conspiracies and shady characters that McCaffrey and the newspaper reporters must sift through to separate fact from fiction and learn that the details they uncover may lead to something bigger than any of them could ever realize.

As the film develops, there are a lot of characters thrown into the mix and the casting is impressive.  Joining the Crowe and Affleck are Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Red Eye) as Della Frye, an inexperienced, yet tenacious blogger, Oscar winner Helen Mirren (The Queen) offers the right dose of irritability as a no nonsense editor facing the reality of the newspaper industry’s fading relevance.   Jason Bateman shines as a shady, bisexual club promoter, Robin Wright Penn plays Affleck’s heartbroken and embarrassed wife, and cameos from Jeff Daniels and Viola Davis accentuate the film nicely.

“State of Play” moves along at a very brisk pace, carrying a lot of plot with it.  Director Kevin Macdonald (Last King Of Scotland, documentaries Touching The Void, One Night In September) lays everything out fine; however, soon enough you become weighed down by everything the film tries to cover in 2 hours.

Yet, it is entertaining and completely watchable.  Some subplots misfire, perhaps compressed too much from the source material.  Yet,  Macdonald again proves himself an extremely talented filmmaker who, in both this film and 2006′s “The Last King Of Scotland”, knows how to got the best from his cast.  While not as suspenseful as other films in this genre, there are palpable moments of intrigue.

All in all, “State of Play” will make you think about all the different things drummed into our heads in this 24-hour cable news society we live in.  Perhaps, the film will even spark up some conversation about current events.

Yet, in the end, like those thoughts and conversations, your mind will likely drift on and place those concepts in the back of your mind.  Because where “State of Play” fails to do is what any modern politician and 21st century news organization fails to do – provide a solution to any of the issues we face on a daily basis.

Should I See It?

YES

If you like “political thrillers” and seek an entertaining, intriguing, well-acted, technically sound film.

If you can buy Russell Crowe as a lonely, scruffy reporter.

If you saw and liked the BBC series.

NO

If you are tired of the Hollywood-made “political thriller” you see multiple times a year.

If you sense that most political films have a liberal bias and err on the side of preachiness.

If you are not a fan of “message” movies.