Movie Review: State of Play

I must admit, State of Play did not look terribly involving after seeing the trailer. Sure, it had a fine cast all assembled in one place, but it did not look like it had anything new to offer. It is a political/murder thriller that looks like so many that have come in the past. So, what was I doing sitting in that dark theater watching it unfold on the big screen? I guess it would have to be my desire to see a movie and it being the best option for the time I had. Still, I went in hoping for something special. What I got was along the lines of the expected. It offered nothing new to the genre, but still proved to be a worthwhile trip, as the cast elevated the entire work, making it bigger and more important than it probably deserved to be.

The plot follows the standard sleight of hand style of so many thrillers that have come before. You see, it leads with a murder, a heinous act to be certain, but one that only serves as an instigator, stirring the pot, if you will. A man runs through stores, down alleys, and over fences, clearly afraid of something. The man hides under an overpass, behind some garbage cans. Slowly the young man pokes his head out to see if it is clear only to be startled by a gunshot. A mysterious man steps into the light, finishes the job and flees the scene.

With that, the stage is set and the pieces are put into motion that will connect the murder of an anonymous man under cover of night with an upstart politician who is currently investigating a Blackwater type company. The twist is that those investigating the case are not police officers or federal agents, they are reporters. All right, maybe it's not so much of a twist, but this fact does lead to the main reason I connected with this film on any level.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

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