Slideshow: 32-Image Gallery For ‘State of Play’ With Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck

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Helen Mirren as newspaper editor Cameron Lynne.

CHICAGO – This 32-image slideshow contains the press images for Universal’s “State of Play,” starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels and Helen Mirren. Written by Matthew Michael Carnahan and Tony Gilroy and Billy Ray and directed by Kevin Macdonald, the film opens on Friday, April 17th, 2009.

Synopsis: “Oscar® winner Russell Crowe leads an all-star cast in a blistering thriller about a rising congressman and an investigative journalist embroiled in a case of seemingly unrelated, brutal murders. Crowe plays D.C. reporter Cal McCaffrey, whose street smarts lead him to untangle a mystery of murder and collusion among some of the nation’s most promising political and corporate figures in State of Play, from acclaimed director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland).

Handsome, unflappable U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is the future of his political party: an honorable appointee who serves as the chairman of a committee overseeing defense spending. All eyes are upon the rising star to be his party’s contender for the upcoming presidential race. Until his research assistant/mistress is brutally murdered and buried secrets come tumbling out.

McCaffrey has the dubious fortune of both an old friendship with Collins and a ruthless editor, Cameron (Oscar® winner Helen Mirren), who has assigned him to investigate. As he and partner Della (Rachel McAdams) try to uncover the killer’s identity, McCaffrey steps into a cover-up that threatens to shake the nation’s power structures. And in a town of spin-doctors and wealthy politicos, he will discover one truth: when billions are at stake, no one’s integrity, love or life is ever safe.”

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos credited to Glen Wilson and Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

1. state_of_play_01: Helen Mirren as newspaper editor Cameron Lynne.
   
   
2. state_of_play_02: Helen Mirren as newspaper editor Cameron Lynne and director Kevin Macdonald on the set.
   
   
3. state_of_play_03: Russell Crowe as reporter Cal McAffrey.
   
   
4. state_of_play_04: Newspaper editor Cameron Lynne (Helen Mirren) questions reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe).
   
   
5. state_of_play_05: (L to R) Reporter Della Frye (Rachel Mcadams) defends her progress to newspaper editor Cameron Lynne (Helen Mirren).
   
   
6. state_of_play_06: Rachel McAdams as reporter Della Frye.
   
   
7. state_of_play_07: Newspaper editor Cameron Lynne (Helen Mirren) questions reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe).
   
   
8. state_of_play_08: (L to R) Russell Crowe as reporter Cal McAffrey and director Kevin MacDonald on the set.
   
   
9. state_of_play_09: Russell Crowe as reporter Cal McAffrey.
   
   
10. state_of_play_10: Rachel McAdams as reporter Della Frye.
    
    
11. state_of_play_11: Helen Mirren as newspaper editor Cameron Lynne.
    
    
12. state_of_play_12: Director Kevin MacDonald on the set.
    
    
13. state_of_play_13: Reporters Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) and Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe).
    
    
14. state_of_play_14: Reporters Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) and Della Frye (Rachel McAdams).
    
    
15. state_of_play_15: Anne Collins (Robin Wright Penn) and her husband, U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck).
    
    
16. state_of_play_16: (L to R) Ben Affleck as U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins and director Kevin MacDonald on the set.
    
    
17. state_of_play_17: Russell Crowe as reporter Cal McAffrey.
    
    
18. state_of_play_18: (L to R) U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) and his wife, Anne (Robin Wright Penn), come to reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) for help.
    
    
19. state_of_play_19: (L to R) PR expert Dominic Foy (Jason Bateman) is grilled by reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe).
    
    
20. state_of_play_20: Jason Bateman as PR expert Dominic Foy.
    
    
21. state_of_play_21: Russell Crowe as reporter Cal McAffrey.
    
    
22. state_of_play_22: Anne Collins (Robin Wright Penn) comes to reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) for help.
    
    
23. state_of_play_23: Rachel McAdams as reporter Della Frye.
    
    
24. state_of_play_24: Director Kevin MacDonald and Rachel McAdams as reporter Della Frye on the set.
    
    
25. state_of_play_25: Ben Affleck as U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins.
    
    
26. state_of_play_26: Ben Affleck as U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins.
    
    
27. state_of_play_27: U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) gets advice from aide.
    
    
28. state_of_play_28: Robin Wright Penn as Anne Collins.
    
    
29. state_of_play_29: (L to R) D.C. reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) questions U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck).
    
    
30. state_of_play_30: (L to R) Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) and D.C. reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe).
    
    
31. state_of_play_31: (L to R) Senator George Fergus (Jeff Daniels) is interrogated by reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe).
    
    
32. state_of_play_32: (L to R) Newspaper editor Cameron Lynne (Helen Mirren) demands answers from reporters Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) and Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe).
    
    

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com