You’d expect a movie about politics to be dry and boring and uninteresting, right? Well this year’s “Ides of March” might be able to change your mind.
The story takes place over the course of a week, leading up to March 15 (Ides of March) in the Ohio primary election. Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney), is a running candidate hoping to ultimately run for president. He’s fair, idealistic, and has a devoted campaign staff. His manager Paul Zara (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), and secretary Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) do everything they possibly can to win the state for the man they think could actually make a difference. Running against the governor is Senator Pullman with cutthroat manager Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti), who takes an interest in young Stephen. When Stephen begins a fling with intern Molly (Evan Rachel Wood), he discovers something that could bring down the entire campaign.
“Ides of March,” starring, directed, and co-written by Clooney, is a very smart and very unusual movie. The aspect of the movie which makes it the most different from others is the acting. Displayed especially by Gosling (“The Notebook,” “Crazy Stupid Love,” “Drive”), “Ides of March” uses a lot of face acting, tearing up slowly and silently and glaring at one another like there’s no tomorrow. Gosling is definitely a rising star. My only criticism is that he physically doesn’t look the part of someone who devotes day and night to a political campaign. Hoffman (“Capote”) was pretty typical, but still very good. His performance as a rough, vindictive, and “loyal” man was very believable.
It’s hard to direct yourself, but Clooney actually did well. Again, he was different from his usual cocky self, and gave off the vibe of a good and honest man.People who don’t keep track of politics or just go to the movies to see car chases and explosions probably won’t like or understand this. (One thing I really liked was a yellow-stylised campaign poster for Morris in the likeness of Obama’s red-white-and-blue posters). Personally, though it didn’t involve any action, I would never consider it boring because it kept me on the edge of my seat.
Although “Ides of March” was probably intended for a selective audience, I genuinely enjoyed it. Don’t be fooled by the political setting, it was much more about loyalty, betrayal, and desperate acts. I left my seat in the theater thinking, “Wow. That was great.” The acting with the strong story really got me, and I would definitely recommend it.
Ides of March is rated R for language.
