The Ides of March

2011 "Ambition seduces. Power corrupts."
7.1| 1h41m| R| en| More Info
Released: 07 October 2011 Released
Producted By: Appian Way
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/theidesofmarch/
Synopsis

Dirty tricks stand to soil an ambitious young press spokesman's idealism in a cutthroat presidential campaign where 'victory' is relative.

... View More
Stream Online

Stream with Prime Video

Director

Producted By

Appian Way

Trailers & Images

Reviews

zkonedog Some politically-inclined films focus on the individual politicians themselves. Others deal more with the issues embedded within the rhetoric. "The Ides of March", however, takes a bit of a new approach to the genre by focusing almost solely on the machinations taking place "behind the scenes" of a political campaign for office.For a basic plot summary, "Ides" deals primarily with Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling), who is working on the campaign of presidential-hopeful Mike Morris (George Clooney). With the campaign seemingly headed in the right direction, Myers suddenly finds himself involved with a girl (Evan Rachel Wood), at odds with his boss (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and even being recruited by the opposing candidate's top campaign man (Paul Giamatti). Much emotion and many moral quandaries ensue.The hallmark of this film is that it is always one step ahead of the viewer. You might think you know what the plot and characters are heading towards, but it never quite turns out that way. I can't even categorize this film style as "twists & turns", but rather just out-thinking the audience. "Ides" seems to know exactly what you will be thinking, and then challenges that notion.The pacing is very good as well. Never, while viewing, did I feel bored or want things to "pick up". "Ides" did a remarkable job of telling a story not especially inherent with action, yet making it an explosive film nonetheless. Director Clooney likely deserves a good share of the credit for this.Of course, it only helps that the cast is star-studded, to say the least. Gosling keeps proving (time and again in 2011!) that he is every bit a leading man, while Clooney and the rest are all at their best. Each cast member adds a little something different to the overall puzzle.Overall, I consider "The Ides of March" to be a great political film. Admittedly, I am a sucker for such cinema, but about the only negative thing I can say about the experience was that I wished it were longer...the film ends so abruptly that you really never see it coming! Other than that, though, this movie will keep you engaged and make you think about its topics.
lakshya Overall, this movie is good, and a one time watch, but it has a weird leftover taste to it, which doesn't settle. There just is something that with this movie that doesn't make one give it more than 3 stars. It's kind of a like-it but not-a-fan or not-too-interesting relationship going in the mind of the user after the movie.So I'm going to review this movie starting with what went good. The acting by all the lead actors is of course good, and that's not something one can bring this movie down really. With a strong A-list cast, it was bound to have some good performances. And Gosling, Clooney, Hoffman make sure you are not disappointed in that regard. Clooney even did a good job directing, and one can't feel that he really could have directed this. Clooney comes of looking good as and realistic and a presidential candidate and Gosling looks very convincing as the very idealistic Campaign Manager who slowly faces the "et Tu, brute" situation and realizing that not everything is as good as it looks, is forced to change himself. So, overall, there are some good performances in this movie.The cinematography, style of shooting, visual effects, and the catchy soundtrack add to creating that thrilling police air for the movie, which again make it gripping and interesting to watch. It keeps the viewer hooked that something interesting is going to happen soon.But alas, that's where the movie fails. Suddenly you realize the movie's over and that was it. Nothing that "big" happened. The Big groundbreaking scandal you were expecting, is not a love affair of a candidate with the intern. Maybe in the old times, but the current times when you have Trump running, with even wilder stuff for presidential candidates coming and going, where you hear political senators from the US engaging in all kinds of weird sexual acts and other scandalous items, this seems very small. There's that all this for that much? Question left when you are finished watching. You realize the some good acting was just wasted there on something that could have turned out to be really good.It's not the script, the movie has good dialogues and and quotes and the talks seem real. It's the overall story that has the fault. It's not as gripping and as much of polecat thriller as it wanted (or was trying) to be.The reason for Gosling to switch from the good to the "take-revenge" mode just didn't seem that strong enough. It wasn't presented well. There's so much that he could have done to prevent but no, it was just a mess with many loopholes. The movie starts of being very realistic, but when it mixes too much emotion all of a sudden, the reality the movie was going for, suddenly becomes less and brings the whole movie down. Overall, the story is pretty straightforward, and the message that the movie is trying to convey is quite simple, and thus puts a lot of pressure on the lead of the movie (gosling) to make it engaging or thrilling, but unfortunately, the character played by him isn't able to deliver that meat of the story required. The story lacks character development. It lacks the heart and soul it required from its protagonist and antagonist which could have made it a fierce completion and an edge of the seat thriller. The competition/fight/race to outshine each other between Clooney and Gosling's character just doesn't seem something actually worth getting into a rivalry for and doesn't seem to reach the intense heights it could have.And it's definitely not intellectual. It's not a smart movie. It doesn't make you think anything towards the end. It doesn't make the users feel connected to the characters. I couldn't feel myself in anyone's shows in the entire movie. Not a single character that could connect with he audience. You don't seem to learn anything new out of all that drama. Just the same old, same old.Overall, its not a bad movie, pretty enjoyable for a one time watch, but cannot make it to anyone's list of all-time favorites. It's not dull, but also not as sharp and exciting as it could have been. It's polished and refined, but the message isn't really clear.
Lola A The movie shows that at the end you have to do what you have to do to save yourself. You might have the best interest in heart but when others around you play you then it's time to start thinking about yourself. While I think this message is transmitted clearly enough through the story line of the movie, the story moves forward quite slowly for my taste. There are a lot of scenes where the dialogue between characters is mundane. With regards to acting, I am not impressed by Ryan Gosling. He comes across as cold and fails to transmit emotions in situations when for example he feels betrayed and played. George Clooney does a great job in impersonating presidential speeches but beyond that he delivered a mediocre performance as well. Overall, I find the movie to be a bit unrealistic and overly simplified in terms of how the character of Stephen Meyers achieved his revenge. When I feel that I have wasted almost two hours when a movie ends, then I know that I didn't like the movie very much and that was the case with this one.
grantss Good, but not great. Interesting, but not profound. I was expecting Machiavellian machinations, but this is pretty tame by Mr Machiavelli's standards. Plot (co-written by George Clooney) is OK, though there are a few moments which are portrayed to be of great import, but make you think "So what?". So there is a feeling of contrivance. (You also wonder if the plot isn't simply a platform for Clooney's political beliefs...)George Clooney's direction is solid. Movie moves along quite effortlessly and doesn't drift. Pacing is consistent.Good performances from an all-star cast: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei. Ryan Gosling has a talking role, for once.