Written and directed by Academy Award® winner George Clooney and
starring Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March is an electrifying tale
of ambition, betrayal and revenge. As up and coming press
secretary Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling) battles tirelessly for
Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney) in a frantic election race
he becomes distracted by sexy young intern Molly (Evan Rachel
Wood). Whilst concealing their affair he agrees to meet the
sition s campaign manager (Paul Giamatti), who offers him a
job on his staff. Stephen neglects to inform his boss of the
meeting and as his silence is revealed he discovers a dirty
personal secret that could sink Morris political career. Stephen
must then decide whether to enact revenge or use it to his
advantage. Boasting a stellar cast including George Clooney,
Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul
Giamatti and Evan Rachel Wood, this seductive, award-winning
thriller will leave audiences guessing until the very last
moment.
From .co.uk
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Director-star George Clooney's The Ides of March is the perfect
film to mirror our time, when the approval rating of the United
States Congress is at an all-time low and the divisions between
the two major parties and their constituents are wider than ever.
Everyone'll have some kind of nit to pick with this rather
self-serious film. Right-wingers won't like the fact that the
central politician (Clooney's Governor Mike Morris of
Pennsylvania, who's running for president) is a liberal Democrat
who advocates raising taxes on the rich, supports a woman's right
to choose, and may be an atheist ("My religion is the
Constitution."). But the Left won't be thrilled by the notion
that even among the most seemingly high-minded, the desire for
victory and the behind-the-scenes maneuverings and compromises
made to achieve it easily trump quaint notions like loyalty and
integrity, and secrets are like bullets to be fired at close
range, where they can do the most damage. The backdrop is the
Ohio Democratic primary, a tight race between Morris and a
senator from Arkansas. Both candidates have smart, able folks
working for them, with Morris's world-weary campaign manager,
Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and idealistic press
secretary, Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling), countered by the
nent's shrewd campaign leader, Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti). But
smart people make mistakes too, and when Stephen meets
semi-publicly with Duffy, who tries to lure the young man over to
his side, he opens a can of worms with a stink that leads to some
very dark places; nor does his dalliance with a young campaign
volunteer (Evan Rachel Wood) turn out to be a great idea, to say
the least. With Marisa Tomei (as a reporter) and Jeffrey Wright
(as an Ohio senator whose endorsement may decide the race) also
along for the ride, this is one of the best-cast movies in recent
memory, and they're all excellent--especially the ever-reliable
Giamatti and Hoffman, whose old political vets have some
wonderfully juicy scenes. The dialogue is literate and sharp; the
story's twists and turns are, for the most part, surprising
enough to keep you in your seat. Best of all, it's another chance
to shake our fists at the hubris and cynicism of the people
who're supposed to be representing our best interests. --Sam
Graham