The Ides of March

I saw the next great film of the year in The Ides of March this weekend. This political thriller, starring Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman...the list goes on and on, was the best all around movie I've seen so far this year. The acting, producing, writing, directing, all top notch. Once again I find myself writing about a large release film that has been advertised for weeks, so I won't go too in-depth in explaining the plot. But just to shed a little light on the story, it is a film that takes place in Ohio during the Democratic primary elections and is based, in a very loose sense of the word, on a young, idealist campaign manager.

Anyone who knows a bit about Roman history or Shakespeare can deduce from the title that this is a film about betrayal. "Beware the Ides of March" is a famous line from the Shakespearean play Julius Caesar, the story of Brutus' betrayal and conspiratorial murder of his friend and ruler. Along with the aforementioned plot, this film is very much about betrayal on many different levels. Anyone can assess solely from the trailers that trust, loyalty, and conspiracy are large themes of this story.

The film is adapted from a play written by Beau Willimon. It is George Clooney's newest directing attempt since Leatherheads in 2008. He also, of course, stars in the film alongside a stunning cast that has all the rights to the lead in the "Best Ensemble Cast" category thus far. The very recently busy Ryan Gosling plays the smart and charming idealist campaign manager, and plays it well. I don't feel the need to be redundant or superfluous in saying that Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti were brilliant, it is just something one comes to expect from the two. The cast is rounded out by a few up-in-coming young actors such as Evan Rachael Wood (Across the Universe, look for her to really break out in coming years) and Max Minghella (The Social Network). Oh and of course there is the shark-when-blood-is-in-the-water reporter played by Marisa Tomei, who's name is always heard when Oscar season comes around.

The incredibly long list of producers, including Leo DiCaprio, implemented a score that, coupled with the constant turns in plot, kept the film at a constant tensity cultivating in an ending that was almost expected after the climax is revealed in the middle of the film. Constant back-room dealings and private meetings churn the plot of the story into the political thriller that audiences and The Academy love. It felt to me like two of my favorites from the 2008 Oscar year Frost/Nixon and Michael Clayton meshed into one, making a film that I suggest you see.

So just to review the year so far. Best movies, in my opinion have been; Ides of March, Moneyball, Midnight in Paris and Tree of Life. Looking forward to Anonymous, Take Shelter and The Girls with the Dragon Tattoo. Also I'll probably see some of the more entertaining over thought provoking films like The Raven, Three Musketeers and In Time, just because they look pretty cool. Excited about Tree of Life coming out on Blue-ray.