"State of Play"
by: Paolo Sardinas

Ok here we are four months into the 2009 and not one, not one movie has really captured my imagination and left me wanting more. Sure we've had the highly anticipated Watchmen, but did it really leave me wanting more. No. Comedies like Observe and Report and Adventureland were funny but didn't leave and impact on me. But with the way things are going now, we need a something that doesn't just hide our problems under a great big cloak. We need something that truly let us escape our problems even if it means escaping into someone else's. This movie is State of Play.

State of Play is a thriller set during the modern day, and tells the story of a journalist (Russel Crowe) who gets mixed in a murder plot all revolving around a congressman (Ben Affleck).
From the moment I see some bum get shot in an alley all they way to the final scene of Russel Crowe walking into the distance I am fully, 100% focused on the screen. I don't think there really has been a movie since The Dark Knight that has made me focus all my attention away from the popcorn and bickering couple sitting two rows down from me in the movie screen.

The acting is just plain phenomenal. Russel Crowe gives one hell of a performance. Ben Affleck, who has been gone for quite a while, as well gives a truly great performance. Same can be said for the ladies of the movie Rachel McAdams and the scene stealer Helen Mirren.

The story don't even get me started on and same goes for the beyond excellent directing of Kevin McDonald.

All in all Stat of Play is basically the kind of movie that isn't made today. It really is a shame that movies can't really be made anymore with terrific acting and intriguing storylines. What a shame. A