The Ides of March

Written by Alex Sukhoy for Film Slate Magazine.

three and a half slates out of five

“The Ides of March” is a testosterone packed political thriller starring Ryan Gosling and George Clooney. Clooney plays Ohio governor Mike Morris, an ambitious family man and politician who has hired Stephen (Gosling) to be his wunderkind media manager, helping him win the top prize: the White House.

In the beginning, Stephen signals loyalty, honesty and respect towards his employer, in whom he firmly believes, both as a boss and as the future President of the United States. Stephen works tirelessly to ensure this win, feeding off the expertise of Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Morris’ most trusted ally. In fact, Stephen is so determined in his vision that even when the opponent’s right hand man Tom (Paul Giamatti) first approaches him to flip sides, the young leader declines and resumes business as usual.

All moves forward almost effortlessly and enjoyably, especially as Stephen befriends a young intern named Molly (Evan Rachel Wood), who, at first opportunity, makes a very forward pass at Stephen, one that he can’t resist. This encounter, while innocent at first, opens the irreversible Pandora’s Box to the story, some of it predictable, some surprising.

Clooney also co-wrote the script with Grant Heslov (“Good Night and Good Luck”) and Beau Willimon. Willimon wrote “Farragut North,” the play upon which “The Ides of March” is based. Additionally, Clooney directed the film, wearing many hats on the ambitious project.

The A-list supporting cast also includes Marisa Tomei and Jeffrey Wright, and, together, the ensemble of talent delivers powerful and credible performances that respect the intelligence of the viewers.

Simultaneously, the film has a 1990s feel to it. Despite the critical use of technology, because today’s times reflect a rabbit-hole cynicism, driven by the world’s on display expectation, one where political scandals, revolutionary movements and economic collapses are only a Twitter feed away, there’s little left that truly surprises people when it comes to playing dirty.

In “The Ides of March,” it is Stephen who is most surprised by the dirty laundry he discovers and, quickly, becomes part of, determining his next chess move as he faces not only personal and professional ruin but, also, his own survival.

The title of this film alone tells the audience everything that will happen. Because for every Caesar, there is a Brutus. And every man has his day in court.

DIRECTOR: George Clooney SCREENWRITERS: George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon PRODUCERS: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Stephen Pevner CAST: George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei RUNTIME: 101 minutes MPAA RATING: R