Bobby Kaltenbach

News Editor

    When the first previews for George Clooney’s new political thriller The Ides of March were released a couple of months ago, I was less than enthusiastic. It seemed as though the concept of an exposé of the political system was a bit redundant, with television news channels constantly reporting on the latest scandals. This, coupled with Clooney’s reputation for being self-important and pompous when it comes to his own political views, was enough to make me rather skeptical. Upon viewing the film, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that The Ides of March is actually a lively, fast-paced, and intelligent movie that viewers can enjoy, regardless of their party affiliation.

    The movie begins during the midst of a close Democratic primary in Ohio between Governor Mike Morris (Clooney) and Senator Ted Pullman (Michael Mantell). The film’s protagonist, Stephen Meyers (played excellently by Ryan Gosling) is a brilliant young campaign worker who has chosen to work for Morris because of what he perceives as the candidate’s idealism and integrity.

    The first thirty minutes or so are an interesting insight into the world of a campaign worker, but it’s only after Meyers undergoes a shocking revelation about the campaign he’s working for that the film gets interesting. At this point, the theme shifts from the duties and responsibilities of a campaign advisor to a meditation on the morality of our most trusted public figures in the modern world.

    Here, Clooney arguably surpasses his previous efforts as a director, including 2005’s Good Night and Good Luck, and provides a solid performance as a charismatic and morally ambiguous budding world leader. Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman also deliver stellar performances as the hardened campaign directors of Morris and Pullman, respectively. If you’re bored and looking for an thoughtful way to spend two hours, then The Ides of March would definitely be a politically correct choice.