State of Play ***

Cast: Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Robin Wright Penn, Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Running Length: 1:58
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Congressman Stephen Collins (Affleck) is the chairman of a committee reviewing whether Pointcorp should be used to outsource homeland security. One of his researchers apparently commits suicide, and it comes out that he had an affair with her. Collins believes that she was murdered because of his position. Journalist Cal McAffrey (Crowe) is his friend and a top reporter at the Washington Globe. He begins investigating the murder with a newbie blogger named Della Frye (McAdams). Soon, he is digging into areas that may be better left untouched, if he wants to continue living.

“State of Play” covers a lot of material in its two hour running time, being based on a five hour BBC miniseries. There are layers upon layers of story here, and while a little confusing at times, it is satisfying. The acting is solid, especially from Affleck and Crowe. This is a smart thriller that provides a twist ending that shows that all is not what it initially seems. “State of Play” is worth checking out.

Traitor ***1/2

Cast: Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Neal McDonough, Jeff Daniels, Said Taghmaoui, Archie Panjabi
Director: Jeffrey Nachmanoff
Running Length: 1:55
MPAA Classification: R

Samir Horn (Cheadle) is supplying detonators to an Islamic terrorist group when a FBI raid kills or captures everyone at the compound. FBI agents Roy Clayton (Pearce) and Max Archer (McDonough) take the survivors into custody. While in prison, Samir and the terrorist leader Omar (Taghmaoui) form a bond, and when Omar makes his escape, he takes Samir with him. Now, Samir is an inside man who can stop an major attack on U. S. soil. He is so deep undercover that only one person, Carter (Daniels) knows about him. Now, he must find a way to stop the attack and get out before it is too late.

“Traitor” is a top notch drama with some action sprinkled in. Don Cheadle is excellent as always as the conflicted Muslim who can stop a massacre. The story is timely and intelligent. A focus of the movie is the difference between fundamentalist Islam and the non-violent Islam. Cheadle’s Samir is of the non-violent type, and as violence becomes necessary, it is interesting to see his character deal with things. The supporting cast is also well-cast, playing characters that are more grey than black or white. I highly recommend “Traitor” and encourage checking it out.