Movie review – “State of Play” (2009) ***1/2

Entertaining thriller which manages to put fresh twists on the tired conspiracy/reporter genre. Russell Crowe (who looks like a real reporter, fat with a beard) does risk his life but he is also helped out on the paper – not only by a feisty female (Rachel McAdams) but by some supporting actors as well. Helen Mirren is great as the editor and although I didn’t buy Ben Affleck as a good friend of Crowe’s, I did buy him as an aspiring politician. I also liked Robin Wright Penn as his wife and Jeff Daniels was great as a born again conservative; Jason Bateman was funny too. Well directed with some great montages.