"Director Kevin Macdonald can't begin to approach the paranoid genre mastery seen in the films of John Frankenheimer and Alan Pakula." - Bill Weber

It starts off on a high note with an engaging murder/conspiracy mystery in a realistic setting with actual three dimensional characters. But it looses it's wind somewhere in the second act's John Grisham'ish investigative-journalism montage, reducing everything to formalistic A to B running, and the final twists are downright annoying. That said, it's still moderately enjoyable.

Smart, but oddly subdued political thriller. Although leads Crowe, Affleck, and McAdams turn in effective performances, their chemistry is never wholly convincing and motives come through muddled rather than concealed for dramatic effect. Cinematography and mise-en-scene are quite good, though, with many unusual approaches to filming in DC that lend verisimilitude.

Ortalama bir entrika-polisiye filmi.

Starts well, but runs out of steam very fast. War profiteers, brave journalists, dirty politicians and conspiracies. Sure it sounds exciting, but not when the story feels way too artificial and far fetched. The fact that it is remake of British TV mini-series does not help either. Casting feels wrong too - Affleck completely does not fit the role. Entertaining enough, but nothing that will stay with you.

Decent thriller, although the ending is a bit of a letdown. Affleck should stick to producing/directing and give up the acting.

Pseudo-deep screenplay made almost watchable by OK acting.

reviews, Rachel McAdams!, (Russel Crowe, Jason Bateman)

A thoroughly competent and fast-paced albeit unoriginal and occasionally predictable conspiracy thriller that benefits from a relatively smart plot and commendable acting.

Not nearly as clever at it thinks it is. Crowe plays the rebellious reporter tolerably while Affleck (man that guy has a big face!) seems to be auditioning for a toothpaste commercial. McAdams is characteristically awful and Penn just wanders through the scenery. The premise kicks in in the first 5 seconds then after 30 minutes just lingers there. By the end the only twist was there wasn't really a twist after all.

It seems to me that Crowe did some real acting here.I think I saw some new facial expressions.Crowe is one of my favourite actors but I wish the movie had been more popular.It is a good story but no one or anything blows up so I am not surprised it was not more popular.

An understated political thriller that sees Crowe in a determined role and Affleck in an unusual one. It's great to see how powerful the theme is in this film.

If instances of dishonesty, cover-ups and heroic loners seem at all surprising, then you haven't watched TV in the past 30 years -- or the BBC series where State of Play originated.