State of Play: Sonia

Official Site: stateofplaymovie.net
Director(s): Kevin Macdonald
Writer(s): Matthew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilroy
Producer(s): Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner,

Starring: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels(IMDb). PG-13, 127 min.

Sonia Baker is the lead researcher in congressman Stephen Collins's (Affleck) quest to expose a powerful private military companie's exploits. Collins develops a romantic affair with Sonia who ends up being murdered, but Sonia Baker's death is connected to two other murders, which Collins who is later informed, is linked to the private military company he is investigating. But as reporter Cal Mcaffrey( Crowe), of the Washington Globe, former roommate to the congressman, continues to venture deeper into connecting the figures of this murder mystery, he discovers, those who were presumed innocent are not so innocent, including his friend congressman Collins.

Besides being a good investigative journalistic crime drama, State of Play is also a good political thriller, because it provides the audience a glimpse of what those who follow politics already suspect, and that is, corporations and politicians are immune to extrication in their respective relationships. And such a relationship is the basis for clandestine quid pro quo deals. This film certainly explores that aspect of business and politics luringly. The decline of readership, and profits of newspapers is also presented in this film, as newspapers are not only obligated to report the news, they have to sell it. The struggle between deadlines and journalistic integrity is explored quite honestly, and I found that refreshing.

Featuring great actors, an intricate well paced plot, descent character development, State of Play is certainly worth watching. The story was engaging. It did not lag. According to metacritic.com, the film received generally favorable reviews, and rottentomatoes.com granted the film 90 fresh tomatoes to 32 rotten ones thus far. Good Stuff. I'll rate it an 85. Stay tuned movieporium.blogspot.com.

Trailer




Russel Crowe Interview



Cast Interview