IDES OF MARCH

Buy into something you believe and carry it with honesty or sacrifice loyalty to come out on top?  George Clooney’s fourth directorial effort weaves classic moral dilemmas into a political drama.  What a perfect setting for a moral discussion, right?  ‘Ides of March’ pits presidential candidate Mike Morris (Clooney) against campaign manager Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling), well not at first.  Myers is a world class manager, leading more campaigns than most that have ten years experience on him.  Teamed up with senior manager Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Myers and the Morris team are poised to lead their golden boy candidate to win the democratic primary.  What unfolds is a series of betrayals and uncovered secrets nearly destroying the campaign and ultimately leads Myers to leave Morris with a challenging ultimatum.  The big secret involves an attractive intern (Evan Rachel Wood and Myers’ love interest), ok I’ve already said too much.  After all is said and done somehow, although Clooney and Gosling are the ultimate charm super team, you leave despising both their characters.

Ever since Trey Parker and Matt Stone so eloquently presented George Clooney’s “smugness” in an episode of South Park I have been searching for a reason to dislike him.  I can’t (other than the fact “he’s too good” as Jerry Seinfeld once stated).  Clooney directs will the precision of a surgeon.  Each scene is brilliant in its own right but also wonderfully builds on the preceding.  The result leaves a final act that oozes revelatory anticipation.  Best of all, the plot is very believable and relevant in Academy terms (there is an election next year for anyone who forgot).  In addition to his skill behind the camera Clooney does well not to let you forget how good he is in front of it as well.  For the majority of the film Clooney basically plays himself; smooth, charming, comedic when the time calls for it, and incredibly likeable.  This all changes during the last exchange between Morris and Myers.  Clooney doesn’t get much more than 20 minutes of screen time so this last scene is paramount in determining his character’s motives and morals.  Clooney plays it brilliantly; a subtle nervousness peaks its head from under the blanket of confidence, it’s hardly noticeable but just where it needs to be.  Due to lack of range and screen time it may be hard for Clooney to collect let alone get nominated for his second best supporting actor Oscar.  Oh yea, Clooney wrote the thing too.

Gosling does well to pull his weight as the lead in ‘Ides’.  It’s eerie how similar Gosling and Clooney’s characters are but that’s basically the case, only more screen time and ability to show more emotional range for Gosling.  Because this is the more commercial film I would give Gosling the best chance to get another best actor nom for ‘Ides’ rather than ‘Drive’.  The supporting players are critical in this film and don’t disappoint.  I definitely would applaud Rachel Wood for her touching performance as the slightly scandalous and most of all greatly confused and lonely intern Molly.  Seymour Hoffman shouldn’t be forgotten either as his more recent career has seen him transition into a key supporting/character actor.

I believe ‘Ides of March’ suffers with some of the critics due to its political subject matter but it’s the exact type of film to stir up discussion with The Academy voters (plus it did well on the festival circuit).  My only worry is it had too early of a release to be a big contender come January/February.  All Oscar thoughts aside, ‘Ides of March’ is a taught political drama directed and acted with precision and confidence, highly recommended.

Grade: A

OSCAR CHANCES:

Best Picture: Lock

Best Director and/or Best Original Screenplay (Clooney): Highly Likely

Best Actor (Gosling): Highly Likely

Best Supporting Actor (Clooney or Seymour Hoffman): Possible

Best Supporting Actress (Rachel Wood): Highly Likely

Best Original Score: Possible

Best Cinematography and Editing categories: Possible