State of Play Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Amy Renner

Last modified: Nov. 26, 2009

State of Play

Release Date: Friday, April 17, 2009 Theaters

Director: Kevin Macdonald

Starring: Russell Crowe • Ben Affleck • Helen Mirren • Rachel McAdams • Robin Wright

PG-13 Drama 2 hrs, 12 m

2.91 / 5.0

76% WILL SEE 24% WON'T SEE

Rent or buy

Plot – What's the story about?

Plot: Oscar® winner Russell Crowe leads an all-star cast in a blistering thriller about a rising congressman and an investigative journalist embroiled in an case of seemingly unrelated, brutal murders. Crowe plays D.C. reporter Cal McAffrey, whose street smarts lead him to untangle a mystery of murder and collusion among some of the nation's most promising political and corporate figures in "State of Play," from acclaimed director Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland").

Handsome, unflappable U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is the future of his political party: an honorable appointee who serves as the chairman of a committee overseeing defense 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 tumbling out.

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

Drama Suspense Thriller

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Will you see State of Play?

76% of people who rated this movie are planning to watch it.

24% of people have indicated they do not plan to see this movie.

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Who stars in State of Play – Cast List

Russell Crowe
Nuremberg, Kraven the Hunter
Ben Affleck
The RIP, The Account 2
Helen Mirren
Goodbye June, Red
Rachel McAdams
Send Help, Doctor Strange
Robin Wright
Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 1984
Jason Bateman
Zootopia 2, Zootopia
Jeff Daniels
Looper, The Martian

Who is making State of Play – Crew List

A look at State of Play behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's director Kevin Macdonald last helmed One to One: John & Yoko and The Mauritanian. The film's writer Matthew Michael Carnahan last penned Dark Waters and The Snowman.

Director: Kevin Macdonald
Screenwriters: Matthew Michael Carnahan
Paul Abbott
Billy Ray
Producers: Paul Abbott
Tracy Falco
Andrew Hauptman

Studios: Universal Pictures
Production Company: Andell Entertainment
Mission Pictures
Relativity Studios
Working Title Films

Production – What we know about the State of Play

Key Facts

Based on the popular BBC miniseries by Paul Abbott.

Movie Filming Timeline: Production Status Updates

Dec 2008

Completed

Changed State of Play movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

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Additional Information

Parent Rating: PG-13 Parents Strongly Cautioned for some violence, language including sexual references, and brief drug content
Runtime: 2 hrs, 12 m
Tagline: Not available
Also known as: Not available
Language: English

State of Play Trailers and Clips

No trailers are currently available.

State of Play Release Date: When was the film released?

State of Play was released in nationwide movie theaters on Friday, April 17 , 2009. The film was released in approximately 2,803 theaters. There were eight other movies released on the same date, including Crank: High Voltage, 17 Again and American Violet.