My Movie Reviews

Release Date: 17 April 2009
Time: 2 hr 7 min
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG-13
My Rating: PG-13
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams
Grade: B+

Synopsis: The Last King of Scotland director Kevin McDonald teams with screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan for this American adaptation of the hit British miniseries concerning the suspicious circumstances that set a rising congressman and a dogged reporter on a dangerous collision course. U.S. congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is handsome, unflappable, and ascending the ladder of power with unprecedented speed. He's the future of his political party, and as the chairman of a committee assigned to oversee defense spending, he's got all the right connections. As the presidential race draws near, Washington insiders begin to speculate that Collins will earn his party's nomination for the country's top job. The prospect of Collins becoming president seems less and less likely, however, when his research assistant/mistress is viciously murdered, and some unsavory truths begin to surface. Collins was once a close friend to Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe), now a top reporter in the nation's capitol. Assigned the task of investigating Collins by his ruthless editor, Cameron (Oscar-winner Helen Mirren), McAffrey recruits fellow reporter Della (Rachel McAdams) in order to track down the truth and identify the killer. But McAffrey has just walked into a cover-up of unprecedented proportions, and in a game where billions of dollars are at stake, life, love, and integrity are luxuries that simply cannot be afforded. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

My Review: This movie was a lot less action than I was thinking and a lot of trying to understand who did what and how it all happened. Russell Crowe delivers another excellent performance with his work in this one and he definitely saved the movie for me. If I hadn't been awake for this one then I would have been very lost as to what was going on. It could have been a little shorter as I felt they were dragging the movie out a little, but still an excellent film.

Recommend: This movie would be a great date night film if you are both into these types of films. Little kids will be bored out of their minds with this one. Be ready to think and pay attention carefully.