THE IDES OF MARCH
R
101 minutes
Director: George Clooney
Writers: George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon
Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright
'He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.'
-Friedrich Nietzsche
Cast
Ryan Gosling—Stephen Meyers
George Clooney—Governor Mike Morris
Philip Seymour Hoffman—Paul Zara
Paul Giamatti—Tom Duffy
Evan Rachel Wood—Molly Stearns
Marisa Tomei—Ida Horowicz
Jeffrey Wright—Senator Thompson
Clooney's movie is based off Farragut North (2008), a play based on the 2004 presidential campaign of Howard Dean. 'Ides of March' is a term associated with the death of Julius Caesar, who died in the middle of March (44 B.C.). Additionally, THE IDES OF MARCH can also refer to the movie in between Ocean's 13 and 14.
Governor Mike Morris (Clooney) is running for president. To feed the 24-hour news cycle — he regurgitates many clichéd, sounds bites. He seems kind of phoney, but what politican doesn't?
With smartphones and cable news, It seems that people can't get away with anything any more, especially if they involve interns. But the reality is — no one has ever been very good at keeping a secret, at any point in history.
'I'll do or say anything if I believe in it, but I have to believe in the cause.'
-Stephen Meyers
In between appearing on the cover of GQ, and breaking up fights at art shows, he has a profession, he acts in many movies. And I'm no psychic (or mathematician), but Ryan Gossling will definitely get an Oscar next year and/or the Nobel Peace Prize.
Steven Meyers (Gossling) is the Junior Campaign Manager for Governor Morris. Over the course of this movie, we see this man transform from an idealist to a nihilist.
'You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness!'
-Obi-Wan Kenobi to Darth Vader.
Ida Horowicz (Tomei) is a NY times reporter, this character does not add much to the movie. Marisa Tomei has always played whores, but not in this film. I'm just not comfortable with idea of her playing a non-whore. It appears she did research on what do smart people looked like? She got the glasses part down, but that's it. I recognize it's necessary to suspend disbelief when watching a movie, but this is asking way too much, It's like Adam Sandler playing a lawyer, or a dentist, really?
There haven't been a ton of good political movies in the 90s and 2000s. THE GOOD SHEPARD (2006), WAG THE DIG (1997), and ELECTION (1999) are notable exceptions.
Going back further, ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976), an excellent film.
You don't know Dick
The parking garage scene with 'Deep Throat' smoking a cigarette, spoofed a number of times (X-FILES, THE SIMPSONS), a vaguely similar scene takes place in this film, between Mike and Stephen.
And The West Wing...Jimmy Smitts ruined a perfectly good show.
Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a Karl Rove-type character. I must say, I have never been disappointed with him, except for ALONG CAME POLLY(2004). (MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III was half-way watchable). He is like Vincent D'Onofrio, somehow, he brings excellence, even to lackluster films.
I would not call this his best work as a director or producer. I believe it's well within his capacity to make a better movie than this one, not that this is awful, but he can do better. Syriana (2005) and GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK (2005) are much better. I would call this about as good as MICHEAL CLAYTON(2007).
In short, I'd say this movie is slightly better than BULWORTH (1998). Oh, did I say slightly, I meant much better, this movie is much better than BULWORTH (1998).
Final Verdict: 80 out of 100
