Movie Review: The Ides Of March

The Ides Of March

R, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed By

George Clooney

Written By

George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon

Genres

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Main Actors: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Evan Rachel Wood, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright

Easy on the eyes factor: 8. Everyone looks stellar. I thought Evan Rachel Wood was smokin'. Very hot in this film. Very cute also. Ryan and George were very handsome in there professional/political dark business suits with red or appropriately patterned ties. Marisa Tomei had a mean, cold ferociousness about her that was sexy. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti, although rotund were both "Power-Sexy".

30 Minute Rule: Very quick engagement. Fast character development. Good transitions from scene to scene. I like how fast you get involved in this movie.

Plot: The Ides of March takes place during the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, when an up-and-coming campaign press secretary (Ryan Gosling) finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate's shot at the presidency.

My Review: Powerful, engaging, intriguing and overall, entertaining. This movie grips you. We live in an era of free flowing news and instant scandal. Politicians are as brutal today as they were in the Greek history and days of Julius Caesar. Campaign slime is muddy and it stinks and every word, sentence, speech and movement is calculated and measured. This movie captures the dirty underbelly of politics.

Ryan Gosling's character Stephen Meyers says: You can lie, you can cheat, you can start a war, you can bankrupt the country, but you can't f%&k the interns. They get you for that. That is a classic line that should go down in the annals of Hollywood movie quotes. And it's so true. Many of politicians have received a pass for almost anything except poor judgment regarding sex, especially with interns and co-workers. That has been the downfall of so many politicians locally and nationally.

The actors in this film are without a doubt, dueling. It's almost as if each one wants to one up the other. Every scene is compelling, smart, witty and edgy; including Evan Rachel Wood. She had a few of the best lines in the film. And the best scenes are the ones with Clooney and Gosling together. They battle it out at the end of the film in an empty kitchen scene. Edge of your seat engagement. There is not much else to say about this movie. It might be my favorite of 2011.

Rating: 10 of 10 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥