A serviceable movie, but it’s the performances that carry the experience.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 1, 2023

State of Play is a classy piece of Hollywood filmmaking that delivers an entertaining two hours in the cinema and features enjoyable star performances from Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 17, 2021

State of Play entertains, but every film genre, including the thriller, would be improved vastly by a more coherent and insightful grasp of the way society actually works.

| Feb 13, 2021

Makes investigative journalism feel as exciting, dangerous, brutal, and immoral as political corruption and corporate espionage.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Nov 29, 2020

State of Play doesn't join the pantheon of great newspaper movies, but it is nevertheless an enthralling and intelligent thriller.

| Nov 22, 2020

A fine example of what studio filmmaking should be.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jun 5, 2019

A smart and intriguing thriller that features a quality cast and some nice dramatic moments.

| Original Score: B | May 16, 2019

The characters here are archetypes, to be sure, but they're all perfectly cast.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 8, 2018

A very old-fashioned, principled, investigative journalism movie, full of red herrings, surprising twists and corrupt politicians. It will keep those who haven't seen the series on the edge of their seat.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 4, 2018

State of Play is well put together and has some intelligence but it's just not very interesting or exciting or gripping for most of the time.

| Aug 29, 2018

I know it sounds like I'm trashing this movie, but the story has real juice and complexity, the performances have muscle, and the political backdrop is ripped from the headlines. I wasn't bored for a second.

| Jan 2, 2018

This film was well worth the wait.

| Original Score: A | Sep 12, 2017

Maybe there's even a point embedded somewhere in there, but it's anybody's guess what that would be.

| Oct 7, 2015

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 17, 2011

It's all very "ripped from the headlines" and the characters are more types than people, but at least it doesn't talk down to you. Much.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Apr 4, 2011

At last, State Of Play is an example of a Hollywood refresh that not only stand up to the source, but builds upon it.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 15, 2010

Smart, complex dramas constructed and performed with precision like this are too rare an offering to pass up.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 31, 2009

Quite a stew of 'relevance'

| Aug 25, 2009

Just couldn't get enthusiastic about the twists and turns in this story of an investigative reporter on the trail of political bad guys. It just made me long for "All the President's Men."

| Original Score: C- | Aug 19, 2009

Kevin Macdonald's State of Play has, in fact, everything you need to tell a great journalist's story, except a great story.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Aug 11, 2009