The Ides of March

George Clooney’s latest effort behind the camera is another well crafted film.

Synopsis: a high-level staffer on a primary campaign for the US Presidency finds out pretty quickly how dirty politics can be.  He gets involved with an intern, discovers unsavory facts about the man he’s working to get elected, is tricked by the enemy, gets fired and begins figuring out how he can effectively hit back and regain his footing.

The handsome Ryan Gosling plays the quick-on-his-toes staffer who ends up outsmarting his boss, an always great Philip Seymour Hoffman, and working directly for the big shot politician with some skeletons in his closet played by George Clooney himself.  Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei round up a great cast that delivers very good performances.

Clooney’s directing skills are getting more refined with time and experience, and he might turn out to be one of those great directors who started out working in front of the camera, à la Clint Eastwood.  Clooney also wrote the screenplay, and again he did a very good job.  The narrative keeps the focus on what matters and doesn’t wander needlessly.

The Bottom Line: The Ides of March is a well made political thriller that showcases good performances and tells an interesting story, especially for the times we live in, when money more than ever dominates in politics.  Clooney does a good job as a writer, director, and actor but it’s Gosling’s presence that demands your full attention at all times.

Grade: 7