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State of Play
2009 127 min France, United Kingdom, United States of America PG-13 18+
★7.2
Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Director: Kevin Macdonald
🎭 Based on
«State of Play»
Trailers
Description
When a congressional aide is killed, a Washington, D.C. journalist starts investigating the case involving the Representative, his old college friend.
Budget:
$60M
US Gross:
$37.02M
Worldwide:
$87.8M
Starring
Russell Crowe
Actor
Rachel McAdams
Actor
Ben Affleck
Actor
Awards
2 wins & 4 nominations total
Key opinion
State of Play is a dialogue-heavy, classic-style political thriller that relies on a top-tier ensemble cast to elevate its complex investigation of corruption. While some viewers appreciate its grounded, cerebral approach, others find the pacing sluggish and the plot prone to generic genre clichés.
| Acting | The star-studded ensemble cast, particularly Russell Crowe and Helen Mirren, provides strong and credible performances that ground the film's character dynamics. | |
| Direction | The film functions primarily as a dense, character-driven mystery that prioritizes investigative dialogue over traditional high-octane action sequences. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is divisive; some viewers find the deliberate, contemplative tempo immersive, while others view it as excessively slow and prone to dragging. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed with skepticism regarding its originality, as it leans heavily on established conspiracy thriller tropes and predictable plot beats. |