State Of Play

Russell Crowe is an investigative newspaper report and Ben Affleck stars as a high flying senator who used to be Russell Crowe's roommate in college. There is a theory with Russell Crowe that the more serious the role, the more weight he puts on - think the Insider. He isn't particularly in shape for this movie, so I think that he thinks it's a serious role.

Basically Ben Affleck's research assistant is pushed in front of a train although it is initially thought to be suicide. She was the researcher on the investigation about a defense contracts company. They stand to lose millions nay billions of pounds, so of course this is worth killing over. Rachel McAdams also stars as a blogger for the newspaper who stumbles onto part of the story.

Helen Mirren is the editor of the paper who runs around saying w*nker, bloody this and bloody that and all other manner of British expletives.

It was intense for about an hour, then I found it fizzled out. I don't rate Russell Crowe at the best of tmes. He is up there with Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise for me - people I normally avoid in movies.

The one person I did like in this movie and have like in all her movies since the Princess Bride and before when she used to be in General Hospital (American daytime soap opera) is Robin Wright Penn.

2 1/2 stars from me.