THE IDES OF MARCH

US, 2011, 101 minutes, Colour.
Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright, Max Minghella, Jennifer Ehle.
Directed by George Clooney.

No need to beware this Ides of March. It is an interesting and entertaining (even though it ultimately surrenders to the cynicism that realpolitik usually leads to) political drama that is based on a play, Farragut North from 2008, the year of Barack Obama’s election and now released a year before the 2012 election. More than topical.

The Ides of March meant betrayal and backstabbing for Julius Caesar. While there is a death in this film (though not for one of the central political characters), the main protagonists live to do battle another day.

At first, this is an enthusiastic look at an-up-and coming young political adviser who has more than a touch of idealism, Stephen Meyers. He is played with keen calm by Ryan Gosling. He is working for the Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania who is seeking the Democratic nomination for President. It is the week before the vote and he is about to debate with his Republican opponent. The action of the film takes place over one week.

The governor is played with his familiar charm by George Clooney (who chose this role since he is producer, co-writer and director). He challenges voters who hold more conventional opinions by stating that his foundation is the American Constitution. And, he draws crowds and delights them. Included in his entourage is his seasoned adviser (Philip Seymour Hoffman). The Republicans have their equivalent (Paul Giamatti). When the latter flatters our young idealist and invites him to meet to talk things over and offer him an alternate job, he goes but regrets it and makes some errors of judgment. He also does this when the flirtatious intern (Evan Rachel Wood) offers a seduction and is taken up on it. There will be grave consequences which we (and the idealist) do not foresee.

We watch the razzle dazzle of public appearances and events. The media intrudes, as always, and there is quite an amount of mutual favours and of political blackmail going on, especially with Marisa Tomei as a campaign-bitten journalist. Leaks, spin, the usual ingredients. There is a Senator to be wooed with promises of important positions and press conferences to trumpet his backing and bringing numbers for the vote.

There is back-stabbing though, in this scenario, the idealism of Brutus turns into the manipulation of Cassius. Stephen does have a lean and hungry look.

Politics is dirty or becomes dirty and, though this is the world of leadership for us all, it is not a pleasant or pretty world deep down (or on surfaces, come to think of it).

1. The political interest of the film? In a non-election year in the US? Preceding an election by one year? For American audiences? In the 21st century? The parallels with Democrats and Republicans in fact?

2. George Clooney’s political perspectives? Democrats, Republicans, his stances? Critique?

3. The film based on a play, the title, Farragut North? The play opened out? The issue of election success versus a job in lobbying in Farragut North?

4. The title, Julius Caesar, Brutus, betrayal, assassination, loyalty, stabbing in the back?

5. Observing the political campaigning and election processes? Behind the scenes, the politicking, the ploys, strategies and tactics, motivations and ambitions, ruthlessness? In the private arena? The public arena?

6. The focus on Stephen Meyers? Ryan Gosling in the role? At thirty, his political experience, skills? His position in the campaign? Ambition? The introduction? Mouthing Governor Morris’s words? The preparation for the debate, the hall, the microphones? The personnel? His personal life? Isolated? The encounter with Molly, working with her, flirting? The sexual encounter, casual, each using the other? Personal relationships as secondary? Stephen and his relationship with Paul, Paul as the campaign manager, the discussions? Tom, the opposition, the meeting, the flattery, the offer? Ida, the interviews, her tough stances, his answers and know-how? In his office, believing in the governor’s principles, for example national service? The opposition to the senator? The governor and the deals with the senator? Paul and the leaks? The time limits, the public and manipulation, observing the manipulation of the public? Molly and talking, drinking, the sexual encounter, the follow-up, the phone call, the revelation of the truth, her pregnancy, helping her with the abortion, willing to pay, driving her, being caught up and not collecting her as promised? The expose? The information, his being fired? The arguments with Paul, Paul and the demands of loyalty, Stephen keeping the meeting with Tom to himself? Suspicions about the leaks? Molly’s death? His going to Tom, unable to be hired because he was not dependable? The truth and the image? The press conference, the governor, Stephen using Molly’s phone to telephone the governor? Meeting with him, making demands? The value of winning? Paul being fired? Everyone present at Molly’s funeral? Stephen and his hold over Morris? The new intern, the system? Victories, the meeting with the senator, endorsing the senator, the collaboration and the future?

7. George Clooney as Governor Morris, his appearance, manner, in the debate, his principles, issues, his role as governor, the Democratic party? The support of his wife and family, the jokes? Tough, behind the scenes, the meetings, the discussions about whether the senator should be on-side or not, needing his numbers? The compromise? His flight to North Carolina, secret, campaigning? Working the numbers, the plans? The relationship with Molly, the revelation of the truth, her pregnancy? His firing Stephen, his attitude towards Paul? The phone call, his being upset by Stephen? The funeral, the meeting, letting Paul go, endorsing the senator? The foundation of his candidature – weak and strong, public and private?

8. Paul, the years of work, his abilities, managing campaigns, plans, pragmatic, his relationship with Ida, the leaks to her, the issue of the senator’s support? Secrecy? Upset about Stephen approaching Tom, not communicating with him? His control? Stephen fired – and this backfiring on him? Accepting his fate, going to Farragut North?

9. Ida, the media, her contacts, tough, deadlines, interrogating Paul, interrogating Stephen, her hold over people, Stephen rejecting her, not being a friend?

10. Tom, his skills as a campaign manager, his allegiance to the candidate? Plans, flattering Stephen, the meeting and the offer, the newspaper and the revelation, Stephen’s visit to him, his explanations of why he could not hire him?

11. Molly, her father and his political power, the strict Catholic background, sexuality and favours, at work, for the campaign, her abilities, flirting with Stephen, the drink, the sexual encounter, the phone, pretending she was the cleaning lady? The issue of the abortion, her going to the clinic, waiting, Stephen being fired and not coming? Killing herself? At the funeral? Morris and the cover-up? Her father’s grief?

12. Ben and the other members of the campaign staff, the role, tough, ambitious, awkward, discussions, his future?

13. The film showing the work of the staff, the pressure of the campaign, the debates, the media, the deals?

14. The glimpse of Morris’s wife, the family, her support – yet his betrayal?

15. The overall portrait of American politics, ambitions and loyalties, pragmatic, cynicism, moral issues? The 21st century?