That was one of my conclusions after watching State Of Play, the new political thriller starring Russell Crowe which opens in cinemas today. In this remake of a six-part BBC drama, Crowe plays Cal McAffrey, a hardnosed crime reporter who stumbles onto a corporate conspiracy when his college roommate, politician Stephen Collins (played by Ben Affleck), comes to him for help after a sex scandal.

Since typing is not the most exciting of activities, the film-makers have thrown in shootouts and a cat-and- mouse chase in an underground carpark.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times, Life!.