STATE OF PLAY
Edge-of-your-seat thrills for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
State of Play is a sharp, fast-moving thriller built around journalists who uncover a political conspiracy. Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams have great chemistry, and the story keeps viewers guessing with red herrings, plot twists, and layers of political intrigue.
The film’s adult content is not incidental. Its story involves adultery, corruption, drinking, drug use, and characters withholding evidence from police. Three characters are shot onscreen with some blood, and the content review notes eight obscenities and four profanities. The film has real moral dilemmas, but its humanist worldview offers no clear reference to God.
If you are a discerning adult who enjoys a well-made conspiracy thriller, take the ride. It is not appropriate for children or young teens.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESCal McAffrey is an old-school print journalist investigating a double homicide. He joins forces with Dell Frye, a female blogger, and they discover possible connections to a political scandal involving McAffrey’s college roommate, now a Congressman.
As the journalists follow the evidence, the Congressman’s personal history becomes entangled with a paramilitary government contractor and a mysterious rogue special forces operative. Their investigation puts their lives at risk as they pursue the truth.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a topnotch thriller with strong performances and impressive production values. Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams deliver great performances, with especially good chemistry between their characters. The story is the movie’s real star, steadily revealing connections within the political intrigue.
The familiar conspiracy material is strengthened by red herrings and plot twists that keep viewers guessing. The music is very well done and unique, as are the other production values. The main weakness is that the filmmakers could have paid more attention to the personal emotional stories. Even so, the result is a very satisfying thriller.
The Worldview
State of Play presents a light humanist worldview. Its journalist protagonist searches for truth about murder and political corruption, but he is motivated largely by his own career. The characters face moral dilemmas, yet the story offers no mention of God or a clearly biblical foundation for truth and justice.
The film does value investigation, accountability, and the pursuit of facts. But those values are mixed with adultery, corruption, and the withholding of evidence from police. Moral concerns are present, though the movie does not consistently ground them in a transcendent standard.
The film’s longing for truth is worth discussing, even when its worldview is incomplete. Scripture says, “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light humanist worldview with no mention of God where journalist protagonist searches for truth about murder and political corruption but mostly for his own career and where characters face some moral dilemmas; eight obscenities and four profanities, with mention by character not to take the Lord’s name in vain but that’s said by a corrupt politician; strong violence with some blood when three characters are shot onscreen; light sexual references includes discussion of past adultery, but not in a salacious, very crude way; no nudity; drinking of beer and whiskey; no smoking, minor character is on drugs; and, strong miscellaneous immorality includes adultery, corruption and withholding evidence from police.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The journalists pursue the truth, but the protagonist is also motivated by his career. What should motivate our pursuit of truth, and how should truth shape our treatment of others?
Ephesians 4:25 · John 8:32The story involves corruption and withholding evidence from police. Why does justice require honesty even when telling the truth costs us something?
Proverbs 12:22 · Micah 6:8The film discusses adultery as part of its characters’ history. How does Scripture describe the damage caused by unfaithfulness, and what does faithful love require?
Exodus 20:14 · Hebrews 13:4The movie presents moral dilemmas without grounding them in God. Where do Christians believe moral truth comes from?
Psalm 119:105 · Romans 2:14–16The Final Word
State of Play delivers a fun, well-acted thriller with an intricate story and excellent production values. Its strong violence, profanity, adult themes, and humanist worldview make it a choice for discerning adults, not children or young teens. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For a different family movie night, see.
