The Ides of March
Union Square Regal, November 7, 2011
Movie #81 for 2011
So, I saw Ides of March right before a whirlwind trip to Australia and forgot to write up any notes about it. So this review will be based on what I think I remember about it.
Steven (RYAN GOSLING), a young media guru, is working for Paul (PHLLIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, pictured with Gosling), an old media guru, on the presidential campaign of Senator Mike Morris (GEROGE CLOONEY). Things are going really well for Morris (and Steven and Paul) - it looks like a principled, deeply committed man might actually win the White House - until very, very quickly, they aren’t and Steven learns that small mistakes can be catastrophic.
I think it was pretty good? But I don’t think it was great. I remember being impressed by the cast (including MARISSA TOMEI, JENNIFER EHLE, PAUL GIAMATTI and JEFFREY WRIGHT in tiny parts). I remember that my expectations were high - that I had loved the play it is based on when Red Stitch did it about five years ago, and was excited that George Clooney was directing a political story again (his Goodnight and Good Luck had been one of my top three films from 2005).
I remember the performances being good, and I remember the plot being compelling, but I don’t really remember what happened in the end. So, yeah, good, but not great.
