State of Play - Stand der Dinge

Schade, dass die Drehbuchautoren die Linie mit den Journalisten so stark betont haben. Bei dem Publikum spielt sie nämlich die zweite Geige. Die Figur der Chefredakteurin Helen Mirren und ihre Bemühungen, den bestmöglichen Artikel herauszugeben, wirken hier nur wie eine Bremse. Die Zuschauer*innen interessiert doch nicht die Zeitung, sondern die Enthüllung der Geheimnisse, die Entwicklung der Beziehungen zwischen den hervorragend gespielten Figuren und das gefährliche politische Spiel, in dem es ums Leben geht. Hat nicht als Flaggschiff des Journalismus der ausgezeichnete Russell Crowe gereicht? Ansonsten ist der Film aber sehr solide, Ben Affleck ist OK und die Emotionen zwischen Crowe und Robin Wright wurden sehr gut rübergebracht. (07.06.2009)

A solid political thriller with great actors, good direction, but a problematic script that results in several characters and scenes feeling empty, and a resolution that is too concise, to the point that after one viewing I’m not entirely sure that everything fits properly. That wouldn’t be a problem in a sci-fi mystery movie, but in a political thriller, which should rely primarily on the plot turning flawlessly and the effect of the final twist, this is a pretty serious shortcoming. 6+/10 (28.05.2009)

If you can already guess what’s going to happen from the trailer, something is wrong. State of Play is undoubtedly an excellent thriller. This is especially true for those of us who like conspiracy theories and enjoy unraveling them together with the film's characters. Unfortunately, the same doesn’t apply to those viewers who have already watched many films like this. Kevin MacDonald tells the story cleverly and very ingeniously lays out the clues, and it's great fun to watch the hard-working actors looking for individual crumbs out of the mysterious forest. Yet, somehow, the entire plot is put together without any stronger vigor or a stronger authorial decal. As a TV craftsman for HBO, he would score points with this film, but in an A-movie thriller, he loses out because of the clichés. I’ll give the film a net 70%, but I just can't round it up to four stars. (19.08.2009)

Sehr nette Regiearbeit und gute Schauspieler, aber das Drehbuchmeister die drei Erzählebenen nur beschwerlich: Thriller, politisch-journalistische Moralisierung und persönliches Drama. Die Einleitung ist exzellent, voller unauffälliger und sehr rhythmischer Regie von Macdonald, aber dann zerbricht, zersplittert, verdunstet alles irgendwie ... Man ist bemüht, die ersichtliche internationale Verschwörung selbst mit ernsthafteren gedanklichen Grundlagen zu vergleichen, aber dies ist mühsam und recht langwierig. Die letzten Wendungen mögen zwar überraschen, aber sie machen den ohnehin bereits schwachen Eindruck von der vorhergehenden Erzählung nicht wett. Am Ende ist State of Play – Stand der Dinge weder ein Original-Thriller noch ein Film, der uns mit irgendeiner Botschaft ansprechen würde. Er hat von allem etwas und von gar nichts genug. Dennoch behauptet er sich dank der Regie sowie der Schauspieler mehr als ehrenvoll. [70%] (18.05.2009)

Politics is a dirty game. Journalists are buggers. Classic journalism is almost a thing of the past. Tony Gilroy is a good writer. Kevin Macdonald has a nose for interesting, current material. Russell Crowe has charisma even with his dad-bod belly. Helen Mirren can take over even when given a minimum of space. Jeff Daniels has his best years behind him. Rachel McAdams is completely uninteresting. Simply old, familiar truths that are also completely true here. The only truth that doesn't apply here is the one about remakes being redundant, because this one is anything but redundant or bad. It does not tarnish the good name of the British original, rather the opposite. (30.05.2009)

A professionally shot thriller, in which Russell Crowe stands out as usual in the role of a journalist, who is passionate about the truth and a good story and is willing to risk even his life for it. Unfortunately, words of praise cannot be said about his partner Ben Affleck. His average acting might have been hidden in a different film and under different circumstances, perhaps behind the production, special effects, or pace, but compared to Crowe, the difference in quality is painfully evident in some places. The fourth star has escaped the film for other reasons - mainly due to shortcomings in the script. The producer wanted to follow the usual formula and attract viewers with a dramatic twist, after which the perspective on the characters of the story changes, but the screenwriter did not avoid logical errors and inconsistencies - see the final encounter between Crowe and the assassin. The expected victory of good and a free press over human filth and intrigue somehow fits into the idea of American studio production, but my sympathies usually go to films that attempt to break or at least avoid established clichés. Overall impression: 65%. (26.02.2013)

Who was the good guy and who was the bad guy? Who made a mistake and who didn’t? Politics is a dirty game and journalism is too, mostly, and when good people get involved with either of them, it changes them, usually in the worst possible way. That’s more or less what this outstandingly acted detective drama is all about. Crowe gives a standard performance and Ben Affleck is getting better and better. The only thing I don’t understand is the Czech title of the movie. This movie certainly isn’t destined for slaughter. (23.08.2009)

It is important not to expect a gripping espionage ride, but rather a lightly sarcastic thriller with a sharply eloquent Russell Crowe and an unremarkable Ben Affleck, again. While watching, I had a feeling that I’d already seen hundreds of films like this, and it is quite possibly true. I recommend it more to fans of the investigative subgenre, the uninitiated will not enjoy it, they will be bored. (14.11.2009)

Ein Journalismus-Film, dem nicht nur ein Tropfen, sondern ein richtiger Eimer von allem beigemischt wurde, was ich an der zeitgenössischen Hollywood-Produktion nicht mag. Reporter, die überall eindringen, unfähige Polizisten, eine doofe Schießerei, bei der ein völliger Amateur einem Profi entkommt, ein geistloses Drehbuch mit einem vorhersehbaren Ende, eine allgegenwärtige Naivität… Im diesem Film findet man nichts Großartiges oder wenigstens Unterhaltsames. Und um ehrlich zu sein – nach 75 Minuten wollte ich den Film ausschalten. Schlimm, schlimm, schlimm. (01.06.2013)

Take out Affleck's dull, inarticulate expression and Helen Mirren's superfluous character of a principled journalist, and you are left with the best you could wish for in a conspiracy political thriller: a great plot, a dense atmosphere sculpted by tons of political dirt and forbidden machinations, a terrific score, and four or five excellent actors who we trust to live and breathe their characters. But be warned, it's still nothing but highly stylized and cleverly twisted Hollywood entertainment with an intrepid Crowe and an attractive McAdams, where the spectacular pursuit of justice far outweighs the honest themes of classic conspiracy films. But you have to get used to it, because you can't do better than this in the genre today – and personally I’m not complaining. 80% (10.05.2014)

Russel Crowe hat mich wie immer nicht enttäuscht, Ben Affleck verteidigte ich vor allen, die ihn verreißen wollten, und Rachel McAdams hat einen unglaublichen Zauber, von ihr gehen Zärtlichkeit und Sensibilität aus. Ein solches Dreigespann aus Schauspielern in einer spannenden Geschichte voller Überraschungen konnte mich faszinieren, obwohl ich es kurz nach Coraline und Millennium - Die 4. Dimension gesehen habe. Vor allem nach dem Letztgenannten hatte State of Play - Stand der Dinge eine schwierige Position. (06.07.2009)

I didn't expect much from this movie, I probably didn't trust it much either, but in the end, it pleasantly surprised me that it is a pretty well-played thriller, slightly political, actually a bit more, which works despite the presence of Ben Affleck. It's not a great masterpiece, but in terms of film and genre, it's more than solid. The script doesn't limp much, and Russell Crowe successfully carries the film. (28.04.2014)