The Ides of March | Review
It’s only fitting that a film concerning the 2012 United States Presidential election is released around the time of the actual event. Though ‘The Ides of March’ is a completely fictionalized political drama, it still concerns real-life scenarios and deep, insightful morals. And if you’re a Republican, be warned – the film doesn’t shine a very positive light on you. The entire film revolves solely around the Democrats, whether good or bad, and their party’s primary.
‘The Ides of March’ stars George Clooney (‘Up in the Air’), who also directed and co-wrote this film. Clooney portrays Pennsylvania governor Mike Morris, one of the two main competitors for the Democratic nomination and a hardcore liberal. His Obama-esque posters are an obvious parody of our real-life United States president’s campaign. Morris’ opponent is Ted Pullman (Michael Mantell), an Arkansas senator. The real star here, however, is Ryan Gosling (‘Drive‘) as Stephen Myers, the junior campaign manager for Morris.
Stephen is a bright, idealistic young man who is sure to win Morris the Democratic nomination, and quite possibly, the entire presidential election. There is one minor scene where Stephen explains to Morris an ingenious policy idea where 18-year-olds will be required to serve two years in the army in return for full-rides to college. Stephen’s reasoning on the policy is that those who are too old to be eligible for the mandatory service will vote for the policy, whereas those against won’t be old enough to vote.
The senior campaign manager for Morris’ camp is Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a man with years of experience and wisdom regarding the cynical game of politics. “Loyalty,” hey says, is the most important thing you can have. The opposing campaign manager is Tom Duffy, played by the always impressive Paul Giamatti.
As the crucial Ohio Democratic primary draws nearer, increased pressure develops. A win in Ohio would practically guarantee a nomination for either camp, and both Morris and Pullman are vying for an endorsement from the powerful Senator Thompson (Jeffrey Wright, from ‘Source Code‘). When Stephen receives an offer from Duffy to join his team, this begins a chain reaction that tests Stephen’s morality and beliefs, causing him to defy his own rules. Stephen begins the film as an impressive up-and-coming campaign managers, but he soon finds himself in turmoil and on a road to revenge and success at whatever cost necessary.
The film also involves a New York Times reporter, Ida (Marissa Tomei, from ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love‘), and an intern for Morris’ campaign, Molly (Evan Rachel Wood); the former is Stephen’s friend, the latter his lover. Stephen’s under-wraps relationship with Molly accidentally reveals a dramatic scandal that only adds to Stephen’s conflict with morality.
‘The Ides of March’ could have been a fantastic political drama, but it quickly devolves when it relies on its soap-opera-like scandal. And its Sorkin-like conversations in the screenplay never deliver the same interesting, ironic, and humorous dialogue like the real Aaron Sorkin’s work. Thankfully, however, the film rides on its success with its strong script and stellar cast. Director George Clooney is surprisingly excellent as a director, though this isn’t the first time he’s been behind the camera. Clooney manages to present the behind-the-scenes of politics very well. The campaign managers and political runners talk about poll numbers and statistics instead of which candidate can be the most beneficial for the country (though that plays into the story a tiny bit). These characters are realists, and they accurately portray the hectic and complicated process that is politics.