State of Play

127 mins., Cert. 12A
Directed by Kevin Macdonald

Oscar winner Russell Crowe leads an all-star cast in a blistering thriller about a rising congressman and an ivestigative journalist embroiled in a case of seemingly imrelated, brutal murders. Crowe plaus D.C. report Cal McCaffrey, whose street smarts lead him to untangle a mystery o murder and collusion among some of the nation's most promising political and corporate figures.

Handsome, unflappable U.S. Congressmans Stephne Collins (Ben Affleck) is the future of his political party: an honorable appointee who serves as the chairman of a committee overseeing defence spending. All eyes are upon the rising star to be his party's contender for the upcoming presidential race. Until his research assistant/mistress is brutally murdered and buried secrets come tumbleing out.

McCaffrey has the dubious fortune of both an old friendship with Collins and a ruthless editor, Cameron (Helen Mirren), who has assigned him to investigate. As he and partner Della (Rachel McAdams) try to uncover the killer's identity, McCaffrey steps into a cover-up that threatens to shake the nation's power structures. And in a town of spin-doctores and welthy politicos, he will discover one truthL when billions are at stake, no-one's integiry, love or life is ever safe.