State of Play

Intrigue, murder, cover-up makes this movie an attention keeper. It has one’s mind going around in a labyrinth. Just when you believe you know the answer---of who did what to whom---it blows up in your face.

The first scene---we see what appears to be a common thief as he burst from an alleyway nearly collided with an elderly couple. And slides over the front of a moving car; then he ran and hid in an alley behind large garbage cans. He waits awhile trying to catch his breath---then starts looking around to see if it is safe to leave his haven. It was a bad move because his pursuer shot him twice---and few second later a guy delivering Pizza on a bike rode by---and the killer shot him also.

The first guy shot was dead, but the second guy was in critical condition in a comma.  The Pizza man had a family he was trying to support with his low wage job, and now the family might have no one.

Next we see Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) who looks like a reject from the 60’s with his long hair and unshaven face; driving his car singing, dialing his cell phone, eating and spilling food all over the car and then he throws his trash on the back seat; which by now looks like a refuse can. When he arrived he greeted Det. Bell who is investigating the crime scene.

Cal McAffrey is a brilliant reporter for the Globe in Washington DC and is known by many of the law enforcement employees. Cal smells a story behind the story of what just happened, and he goes to work on solving it. He is unflappable but works for a tough Editor Cameron Lynne (Helen Mirren) whose bottom line is whatever is good for the paper. She is a fan of Cal’s but she does not give him sweet words of praise very often---because she knows it is sales that will keep her bread and butter.

Then a beautiful young redhead leaves her home to walk to the subway station as it is her mode of travel to her job. Upon arriving there she stands close to the edge waiting for the subway---one just knows something bad is going to happen.

The police called Congressmen Stephen Collins’ (Ben Affleck) office before he arrived . When he arrives his secretary tells him Soni Baker (Maria Thayer) who worked for the Congressman as his aide was killed in an accident at Metro this morning she was identified by her badge.

Congressman Collins is stunned---he stands with a look of disbelief. One of his staff members reminds him that it is time for the meeting this morning.

The meeting begins with Stephen Collins saying—Welcome to our hearing of Private Security Contractor Winkle into the Defense Answers and Practices—before we begin I have received some terrible news.

This is only the beginning of the story---now the News Media is speculating that Congressman Collins had an affair with his aide Soni Baker. The Domino effect begins as Cal McAffery

Congressmen Collins is a young tall dark and handsome man who is married. Will he remain the darling of his political party? Will his wife forgive him? Will he turn to his college room-mate Cal McAffrey for help? Is he innocent of being involved in the murders?

This is a great movie---and I am watching it again tonight, as one always misses something the first time. Enjoy the State of Play Movie.

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