‘The Ides of March’: A Wake Up Call for the American People
Politics are often better left unseen. What we may discover will undoubtedly scare us and make us realize that notions like morals or common good are nonexistent in politics. It’s a harsh world, and quite frankly, there’s nothing we can do. George Clooney’s brilliant, well-acted and downright mesmerizing film The Ides of March embodies these unfortunate realities with unflinching honesty.
Based on the play Farragut North by Beau Willimon, The Ides of March follows Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling), a fresh and intelligent kid who’s an adviser for Democrat Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney), whose campaign is led by Stephen’s boss Paul Zara (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). Morris is inexperienced, but his presidential candidacy has a legitimate shot at the White House.
The Ides of March features a political atmosphere like few films I’ve seen. Ideals are tested, characters altered and any decency Morris or Stephen (among many others) possess in the beginning of the movie are ultimately relinquished by the film’s final shot.
Reminiscent of All The Presidents Men, Clooney’s tour-de-force of conventional yet dynamic filmmaking is on full display here. The characters beyond the major players include a plethora of fantastic supporting actors: Paul Giamatti as a slimy consultant for the a Democrat opponent, Even Rachel Wood as a young, seductive intern who gets more than she bargains for and Marisa Tomei as a devious journalist for the New York Times.
All of the characters contribute to Ides’ compelling, jaded, and cold-blooded storyline. There’s no good guy here. There’s just the corrupt, the cynical and all those in between. Some may find fault with the lack of a character to “root for”. But you see the film is not wishing for your pity or praise of characters. The Ides of March faces the facts of American government and politics without apathy. Even our protagonist, who at first seems to be an idealist inspired by Morris, ultimately succumbs to cynicism.
The plot unravels with multiple, suspenseful dirty secrets and lies. It’s troubling for anyone who cares for the well being of this country to see such supposed wise, compassionate men take part in such frivolous and sadistic acts. I suppose it all comes back to us. More often than not our own personal desires trump the common good. Politics should — in an idealistic, alternate reality sort of way — be fair, just and contain some sort of loyalty.
As a piece of art, Clooney has achieved something special with The Ides of March, sending a message to the American people about the corruption in our government that seemingly has gone unnoticed. It’s a spellbinding piece of work.
B+
(3.5 Stars out of 4)
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22 Comments
Hi, Sam and company:
From the clips I’ve seen. The Ides of March looks, sounds and feels like an updated, up gunned take on Robert Redford’s far superior The Candidate from 1972.
Granted the cast looks great and the writing is far above average. Clooney as an actor and/or director doesn’t do much for me. Lacking both style and finesse.
I’ll take some time out from my just outside Washington, DC continuous liberal media bombardment of all things political and see it.
Perhaps, I’ll be proven wrong.
Very formal response.
Looking forward to your thoughts after you see the film.
Jack is the most polite commenter I’ve ever encountered on the blogosphere. I always love getting comments from him. Oh and we are in total agreement about Clooney.
Any thoughts on what it might have to offer to someone who can’t vote in the US and is therefor reduced to scold your politics by throwing popcorn at the screen every time Stephen Colbert mentions Rick Perry? Hypothetically speaking, of course.
It’s a masterclass of acting, but it certainly rings true to Americans more than anyone else. You’ll still enjoy it, though.
0bama the zero or some right-wing nut, the 2012 election are going to be so exciting! NOT.
You don’t sound all too enthusiastic about the current political landscape.
In all fairness, Obama wouldn’t be a “zero” if it weren’t for the right-wing nuts constantly blocking him in the first place.
The question is, how much wing nut are we talking here? Because it seems none of the candidates are appealing and they range pretty widely in the nut scale.
That’s because I’m not Max
I like Obama, he is well-intentioned and very reasonable. I knew right away in 2008 that he would inherit a mess and would be blamed for the US economy being in the dumps but he needs to start acting like a strong leader and stop pandering to folks who will never vote for him anyway.
I would like to see the President re-elected, but I’m almost positive that Romney will end up being elected after Perry and Bachmann gaybash each other out of the race.
Bachmann has never been nor will she ever be a solid contender. Palin has a better shot at being elected and she is not even running.
She is however a good weapon on the Republican side because she is loud mouthed and doesn’t care what people think so she can go on and bash for free.
I wouldn’t count Perry out. Romney is too much of the same old same old even though he is the more reasonable candidate.
For the record… it doesn’t matter who becomes President.
They don’t have the power everyone perceives them having.
Sadly, if this film is a wake-up call for the American people, those who are already “there” politically will be the ones who see it, and those who need to will avoid it in general.
Sadly, you’re correct.
This was a terrible movie. The story seemed like it was right out of ‘The West Wing’. The only thing I really liked in this movie is how Goslings character has a growth similar to Al Pacino in ‘The Godfather’. He starts off so bright eyed and obvious to how politics really work. How he learns is the reason to see this movie.
That was, perhaps, the most sporadic comment I’ve read on Anomalous.
You start off by calling IDES a terrible film – then by the end you say Goslings transformation in character is the reason alone to see the movie? Don’t see the validity in that.
Just a tad perplexing. How can you fault a film for be straight of the WEST WING?
It came straight out of play, which, may, in turn come from the WEST WING. Who knows.
Broad comments my friend.
I don’t know if I’d call it a wake-up call. We are all aware of how corrupt the system generally is.
We, the people commenting on a film review, may be. But the general population? Nah.
I’d say so. Look at the general outrage over every little issue. If anything I’d say the public is too eager to jump to calling corruption.
By the way how is Bachmann too crazy, but Perry isn’t? He’s is just as far out there.
I assume you are responding to my post. I never said he wasn’t a nut. I go as far as agreeing that he is out there.
Anyways, we’re derailing this thread, which is about a movie on politics, not about our current political candidates (although one can argue it infers things about our candidates)
Pretty good then>?
I may have to got o the Gala at LFF then and try and meet Mr Clooney at the press conference!! Although I was going to let this one slip by and catch it on National release. hmmm I am confused now
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