State of Play

State of Play (2009) is a political thriller you can watch online on iFILM. Washington reporter Cal McAffrey takes on a death that drags in Congressman Stephen Collins — his old college roommate.

The dead woman was a researcher on Collins's staff, and rumor pegged her as his mistress. The newsroom smells a sex scandal; Cal smells something far bigger. A young online reporter, Della Frye, keeps pushing him, editor Cameron Lynne wants copy by deadline, and the trail bends toward a private defense contractor with billions on the line and no patience for questions. The closer Cal gets, the less he knows who to trust. Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams and Helen Mirren lead the cast.

Director Kevin Macdonald adapts the acclaimed BBC miniseries, squeezing six hours of intrigue down to two. What lands is a story about print journalism dying at the exact moment it is the only thing left that can dig out the truth. Stream State of Play (2009) online on iFILM.