{"id":1483,"date":"2011-10-29T15:15:10","date_gmt":"2011-10-29T15:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=1483"},"modified":"2011-10-29T15:16:35","modified_gmt":"2011-10-29T15:16:35","slug":"lff-2011-the-ides-of-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/thriller\/lff-2011-the-ides-of-march\/","title":{"rendered":"LFF 2011: The Ides Of March ***"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a> George Clooney<\/a>\u2019s fourth directorial film, The Ides of March<\/em><\/a>, is an enticing ode to yesteryear political thrillers, but it\u2019s also a delightful exercise in intense acting exchanges played out by his stellar main cast of Ryan Gosling<\/a>, Paul Giamatti<\/a> and Philip Seymour Hoffman<\/a>. Although Clooney stars in this, it\u2019s in a supporting capacity. His talent is in the direction of the 55th<\/sup> London Film Festival highlight, a perfect festival film contender, but also one that will entice the regular cinemagoer at the box office.<\/p>\n

The story takes place during the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, when up-and-coming campaign press secretary Stephen Meyers (Gosling) finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate, Governor Mike Morris (Clooney)\u2019s shot at the presidency, and exposes him as a pawn in the uglier side of politics at the hands of rival campaign directors Paul Zara (Seymour Hoffman) and Tom Duffy (Giamatti).<\/p>\n

The dialogue-rich film is accentuated by the direction and camerawork that focuses our eye on the impact of the words or expressions \u2013 as demonstrated by the first and final shots. These bookend shots also establish whose journey we are following, and Gosling as the brilliant but gradually troubled Meyers is a perfect blend of poker-faced control that cracks and crumbles, as the traps are set, with him gradually breaking sweat then regaining his composure. Those who have seen Gosling in the recent hit Drive<\/a><\/em> can expect more of the same style of performance, helped by this sharp script and supporting talent.<\/p>\n

The real thrill, though, is witnessing the acting stalwarts of American drama in action; Giamatti and Seymour Hoffman as the enigmatic puppeteers are dynamite in this. Coupled with some fine performances from Marisa Tomei<\/a> as dogmatic newspaper hack Ida Horowicz and Evan Rachel Wood<\/a> as feisty and competitive intern Molly Stearns, the interactions are pin-sharp and a credit to Clooney\u2019s casting and directing expertise.<\/p>\n

The gripes with the film are the unsatisfactory plot that lacks intriguing layers, the likes of, say, All the President’s Men<\/a><\/em> is flush in, plus the American-centric, localised nature of the politics to hand. That\u2019s not to say that the political diet of conspiracy, deception and corruption are not universally understood, rather a lot of the full impact of the political detail may be lost on a non-American audience. Clooney points to a Monica Lewinsky-style plot, but the result isn\u2019t quite headline-grabbing enough to make even Horowicz keen to continue unearthing the dirt. The build-up with its wonderful moments fizzles out in the long run. Thankfully, the acting tour de force dilutes the political thriller clich\u00e9s.<\/p>\n

Granted, Clooney and cast are an absolute triumph, but even their solid and engaging performances can\u2019t mask the serviceable but thin and unremarkable plot that links them.<\/p>\n

3\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

Follow on Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n

**WATCH\u00a0 THE TRAILER HERE<\/a>**<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

George Clooney\u2019s fourth directorial film, The Ides of March, is an enticing ode to yesteryear political thrillers, but it\u2019s also a delightful exercise in intense acting exchanges played out by his stellar main cast of Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Although Clooney stars in this, it\u2019s in a supporting capacity. His talent … <\/p>\n

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