The Ides of March - (October 7, 2011): R
Distributor: Colombia Pictures (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Opening Weekend Box-Office: #2 with $10,470,143
Domestic Box-Office Gross to-date: $29,159,326
Gross Revenue: $29,159,326
Production Budget: $12.5 million
Director: George Clooney
Because it is an adaptation of the 2008 play Farragut North, based on its title alone, The Ides of March really gives audiences no hints in terms of subject matter, but trailers promised a significantly mature story. It has been a while since a genuine political drama has charmed audiences, but with an ambitious and well-regarded cast that included A-listers like George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, and Marisa Tomei, The Ides of March would be sure to draw a crowd. In all honesty, Colombia Pictures really did not have that large of a challenge in selling this film, as the story of a idealistic political candidate would resonate in a time of political turmoil, while a tagline like “Ambition Seduces. Power Corrupts” promised some dark occurrences to keep things interesting. At the very least, I know that a number of moviegoers would be interested in seeing how Clooney would do in directing such a high-profile cast, especially since the film was already so well-received at the film festivals. Now, I am anything but a fan of politics, but as a fan of each member of the cast, I still had pretty high hopes for The Ides of March.
Set during the primaries of the next presidential election, The Ides of March introduces audiences to Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling), the Junior Campaign Manager for Pennsylvanian governor Mike Morris (George Clooney), who is seeking to win the Democratic nomination. Meyers and his mentor, Senior Campaign Manager Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman), are strategizing how to win the support of Ohio, which would virtually guarantee Morris’ presidential nomination, as there would be no overt competition relative to the Republican candidate. Idealistic and genuinely supportive of Morris, Meyers is soon approached by rival Campaign Manager Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti), who tries to get the young strategist to switch his loyalties. Shaken by this political ploy that could threaten his career, Meyers is further agitated by the revelation of a scandal involving a campaign intern, Molly Stearns (Evan Rachel Wood), and the continued prying of New York Times reporter, Ida Horowicz (Marisa Tomei). His world rapidly unraveling, Meyers must decide if he is willing to betray his principles and begins to question what he truly believes about the political landscape that is beginning to emerge.
Based on subject matter alone, I should have hated The Ides of March, but the reality is that I absolutely loved the film, which is bolstered by strong acting, smart dialogue, and a genuinely engaging and cutthroat story. As expected, Ryan Gosling shines as the lead character, his transition between earnestness and pessimism coming so naturally that it now seems there is no genre that this young actor cannot dominate. The common thread between the other actors involves a ruthless duality that is downright surprising and entertaining to watch, the best examples being Clooney and Giamatti, but their standout performances should in no way underplay the contributions of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Marisa Tomei. In terms of directing, Clooney also demonstrates considerable talent, keeping the narrative flowing in a stylish way that holds audience interest while concurrently maintaining tension levels key to the narrative. The dialogue is also clever and intelligent, making the complicated world of politics accessible to the average viewer, and when that achievement combines with the rest of the film’s elements, The Ides of March transforms into an absolute must-see.
If I had to point out anything truly disappointing about The Ides of March, I would have to say that the film does take some time to build momentum, and that the complicated dialogue is difficult to follow at first. In all honesty, audience patience will be rewarded if they can make it through some of the dialogue-heavy opening scenes, but that is a bit of a large request for casual moviegoers. Another object of criticism relative to The Ides of March involves the overall themes that are presented, as the pessimistic, brutal, and corrupt picture of politics that is ultimately painted may be difficult to separate from reality; granted, that is the same opinion I share of politics, but still…bummer. And the story may have been engaging, but the shocking “scandal” that is ultimately revealed is still far too predictable. These criticisms aside, this political drama/thriller still offers the kind of intellectual comment on an established institution that has been missing from theaters for quite some time.
From a box office perspective, no one was expecting The Ides of March to take down Real Steel in their shared opening weekend, as I guarantee that boxing robots have far more appeal than political elections. Still, $10 million is a respectable first weekend haul, and strong word-of-mouth has helped this intelligent film already double its modest production budget. I can only hope that positive buzz continues to build and can motivate some of the younger demographics who share a disdain for politics to realize that this film is a far cry from traditional expectations. If anything, Clooney has more than rectified the disaster that was last year’s The American, while Ryan Gosling can cross-off one more genre of film from his list of accomplishments: sports, independent, romance, comedy, drama, action…what’s next, documentaries and comic book adventures? I cannot emphasize it enough; you need to go see The Ides of March, which is absolutely fantastic.
Overall Recommendation: Very High
