When it comes to political movies, I am not the greatest fan; but this one begins with the red and the whites, the primaries and the delegates - and manages to pull back the lining, and uncover a movie that seeps to the deepest of the human spirit. It goes from the public to the individual and how each of our dreams can create a monster inside that we never thought was there.
The title is a very interesting one, for it represents the 15th day of March in Roman history (and also in the film), when Brutus betrayed Caesar - and betrayal is a key component in this movie, but it also is a known ingredient in many political arena's. This is what makes The Ides of March so captivating (although this movie isn't for everyone), for it examines what it takes for any of us to reach a point where friends can become enemies.
The movie takes a while to gain momentum, as it delves into the life of Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling), a up-and-coming campaign manager, who we first see going over a campaign speech meant for a Governor candidate soon-to-be-president Mike Morris (George Clooney), who is running up against Senator Pullman. The relationship between Stephen and Mike is one of mutual trust, as Stephen thinks that Mike will become a president who will finally stand by what he believes.
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| IDES on the prize |
Oh the tangled web we weave in politics.
Steven works under the senior campaign manager, Paul Zara (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), who's strict views of loyalty determines many of his decisions. Pullman also has a senior campaign manager, in the name of Duffy (Paul Giamatti), and he wants to steal Steven away from the competition. All the while each one is being stalked by a roving reporter Ida (Marisa Tomei), who's loyalty seems to be to herself and who has the best story.
Many players, many situations - and all of them come to full momentum when Stephen meets an intern to his campaign; Molly (Evan Rachel Wood), who is no stranger in speaking her mind, and getting what she wants...even when the consequences of her actions eventually haunt her. This is a movie ripe with characters that are all out to prove something to others, as well as to themselves, so their overall motives for action can fluctuate like the wind.
The Ides of March is filled with low-level tension, and as the morals of each character begins to change, it slowly causes a domino effect on other characters involved. It moves from just a political movie to an emotional one. We will all begin to rethink the many political campaigns we all have been involved with as voters, and it will generate a dark cloud on this country as a whole.
The Ides of March manages to go beyond a race that actually deals with race. In this race the senator of each state holds the many votes (and voters) of that state, and there is a Senator Thompson (Jeffrey Wright), a black senator who both sides are trying to promise a higher office if he would just side with them. Although it is interesting to see a minority holding such power over two non-minorities (and the irony of it is hidden, for many minorities make it possible for the upper-class to have the power they have because of the work or favors that a minority can provide them), and how Thompson waits for these opposing characters duke it out - knowing that eventually they will come to him, is one that is kept at bay. This movie is run by human decisions, not human skin-shades. The only race really viewed in this movie, is the campaign kind.
Lastly, The Ides of March so that Human nature is after all the nature of a Human - and so we aren't really voting for a dream, we are voting for a man...and all his flaws.
...of which, this movie isn't one of them.
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