Crowe shines in old-fashioned political thriller

Director: Kevin McDonald

Cast: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams

Cert: 12

A good old-fashioned political thriller – based on a really excellent BBC TV series (well worth seeking out for comparison) – in which Crowe plays that all-too-rare animal, an investigative reporter with ethics.

Indeed Crowe’s performance should be greeted with enthusiasm by all much-maligned journos who are usually consigned to the bottom regions of the popularity lists along with second-hand car salesmen, bankers and serial killers. A hero reporter, who’d have thought it!

A series of seemingly unrelated murders, political intrigue, conspiracy theories and all round dirty deeds abound for Crowe and McAdams, who plays the rookie reporter he teams up with, to get their teeth into … and, of course, nothing is ever quite what it seems.

Mirren is terrific as Crowe’s tough editor and Affleck equally excellent as the might-be shady Washington politico.

A really fine drama all round.

Star Rating: 5/5