UNITED States Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is chairman of a televised committee hearing into defence budgets when he learns of the suicide of his staff assistant, Sonia Baker.

The media swarms and gossip-mongers seize on the possibility of an extra-marital affair between the Congressman and his beautiful aide. As speculation intensifies, Collins confesses and begs forgiveness from his wife Anne (Robin Wright Penn). Hard-nosed Washington Globe editor Cameron Lynne (Helen Mirren) assigns veteran reporter Cal McAffrey (Russel Crowe) and ambitious rookie Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) to cover the story. They uncover a far-reaching conspiracy involving powerful senator George Fergus and emotionally-unstable public relations guru, Dominic Foy.

Adapted from the six-part BBC mini-series created by Paul Abbott, State Of Play is a timely political thriller about the tug of war between morality and sensationalist headlines. Verbal jousting between Crowe and McAdams shapes their on-screen relationship nicely, and Mirren elicits a throaty chuckle with her opening-line gambit, which tells you everything you need to know about her character in six salty words. Tension is sustained for most of the two hours, only noticeably slipping when the plot strands are hastily knitted together for the big reveal.

Film **** Extras ***