After Crazy, Stupid, Love. and Drive, Ryan Gosling’s career and popularity in Hollywood has been spreading like wildfire, and with this newest project, the young star would be able to spread his acting range even farther. Political drama has never been my genre of choice, but with a powerhouse cast and George Clooney in the driver’s seat, The Ides of March had all the makings of a classic. Philip Seymour Hoffman may not be one of the most prevalent actors in Hollywood, but when he makes a film, you damn well better pay attention…add in award-winners like Paul Giamatti and Marisa Tomei, and I was sold. As the opening film of the 68th Venice International Film Festival and an entry in the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, critical favor for The Ides of March was a virtual certainty, so it looked like Columbia Pictures would have little trouble selling the project to mass audiences. I still wasn’t exactly sure what to expect in regards to this positioned thriller, but I had enough faith in the filmmakers to give The Ides of March a fair chance.
Smart, well-paced, and mesmerizing, The Ides of March is an unbelievably strong film, with each member of the cast proving exactly why they are famous and people pay money to watch them perform. Gosling shines as the idealistic campaign manager confronted with the harsh and unforgiving reality of politics, while Clooney and Giamatti engage a dark duality that serves as a pleasant surprise. With the understandably complicated and charged subject material that would accompany a storyline involving a presidential primary election, the film could have easily lost the attention of more casual audiences, but the dialogue and stylish direction help keep everything engaging. If anything, the overall theme is slightly predictable and little too pessimistic, but even a slightly exaggerated take on reality can be entertaining. Plain and simple, with such a popular cast executing a thoroughly enjoyable film, The Ides of March should not be missed by anyone.
Overall Recommendation: Very High
