FeatureFilm
Ides of March
- Rated: M - Contains sex scenes and offensive language
- Running Length:1hr 41mins
- Cast:Paul Giamatti, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Session Times
Summary
George Clooney seems to have a predilection for films about powerful men with big problems. This, his latest venture behind the camera, deals with the same theme.
Ryan Gosling gives another powerful, nuanced performance as Stephen Myers, an idealistic press secretary to Governor Mike Morris who is making a run for the White House. When a senator’s allegiance appears to be shifting away from Morris, Stephen takes the reins and agrees to a top-secret meeting with the campaign manager of Morris’s opponent.
The film’s greatest achievement is in showing the loss of innocence of its young protagonist. Myers begins the film looking like a golden god, certain he’s backing the winning horse. He is on good terms with the press, his boss and a much lauded campaign manager and his staff. He even manages to bed a young intern who happens to be the daughter of the National Democratic Committee head.
But when a New York Times reporter asks him about the clandestine meeting, things start turning sour, getting worse when the intern makes a confession which leaves him with a PR nightmare on his hands.
Gosling is perfect in the role, switching from one side to the other as he’s forced to make choices that go against his moral compass. The supporting roles, including Clooney as the candidate and Marisa Tomei as the dogged reporter, are uniformly well portrayed.
This is a solid piece of political drama, and while its twists may not be entirely surprising, the film does beggar the question as to why anyone would subject themselves to running for office.