Despite the cliched nature of much of the dialogue and the derivative thriller set-ups, 'State of Play' provides sufficient old-fashioned entertainment value to justify the ticket.
– Wally Hammond,
Time Out,
24 Apr 2009
rotten:
The three screenwriters may have been trying to work too many plot strands into two hours; in any case, State of Play is both overstuffed and inconclusive.
– David Denby,
New Yorker,
20 Apr 2009
fresh:
It's sentimental in all the right ways.
– Peter Rainer,
Christian Science Monitor,
20 Apr 2009
fresh:
As a former reporter and a fervent believer that we need good, independent newspapers to do their jobs keeping government and business in check, I think they got the journalism right.