““The Ides of March” is pitch perfect as we see the high-stakes gamesmanship involved in presidential campaigns.”
-Richard Roeper
(2011; R)
In theaters: Friday, 7 October 2011
Genre: Drama
Cast: George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomel, Evan Rachel Wood
Fatima said on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 7:24:17 PM Yes, to all of this. It's a film trying to tell you that pitclois is corrupt yet we're supposed to buy that Gosling is so idealistic and innocent despite already being so calculating as a campaign higher-up. And then we're supposed to feel jaded even though the movie doesn't even begin to dig into the depths of political intrigue behind primaries. The film is never on the wavelength it wants to be on. It's also kind of hilarious that a film supposedly about the backroom, cynical machinations of campaign machines doesn't even get into the money. Instead it goes for predictable scandal and completely moves away from the point the film wants to make. I can't find any mention of that scandal in what I've read about the original play, so I'm wondering if Clooney added that angle.Clooney's a solidly classical director, even if that almost hurts him here (it's too pretty to evoke a dark mood), and he's magnanimous with his actors, but he's denied himself a hero with this movie even though he cannot seem to function without one. Instead of then committing to the dark side, he just softens the bleakness.
Dan Skip Allen said on Monday, October 17, 2011 12:08:51 AM Thi is my review of The Ides of March From the Fourth Row!
mike said on Monday, October 10, 2011 12:31:55 AM Maybe hiring a director would have helped. I always cringe when I see the lead actor also trying to do the directing or producing. Some have been able to pull it off like Eastwood but others struggle.