Review: 'Ides of March' Doesn't Quite Get Our Vote

By Michael Lopez

About this time every year you begin seeing movies with "substance" hitting the theaters. A few weeks back it was Brad Pitt's Moneyball and now George Clooney's in the running with The Ides of March. Thought-provoking, dramatic, and full of heartfelt scenes, Ides is definitely entertaining. But don't look for it on any Best Picture lists this year.

It's hard to explain exactly what Ides is lacking. There are some great performances (particularly by lead Ryan Gosling), a story ripped from the headlines, and crisp dialogue between the characters. Yet many of the situations feel a bit too contrived, giving the film an over dramatic TV Movie of the Week feel.

The story follows the life of Stephen Myers (played by Gosling), a hotshot campaign manager for up-and-coming presidential candidate Mike Morris. George Clooney does a convincing job as Morris and clearly has quite a lot invested in this film, as he's listed as director, producer, and co-writer.

Though Clooney's character seems engaging and likeable (kind of like another famous candidate we know), beneath the surface he's full of imperfections. It's the job of Stephen and senior manager Paul Zara (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman) to shield those flaws from the public. And, for the most part, they do a pretty good job of accomplishing that task.

But throw in a sexy intern (played by Evan Rachel Wood) and you can have all kinds of trouble on the campaign trail. Soon Stephen's political hero turns into an untrustworthy slime ball, which makes him question his own morals and ideals.

The broad concept of Ides is actually quite interesting. It's just the execution and conclusion that feel a bit hokey. Then again, it is just a movie and can lead to some great conversations once you leave the theater. But considering the high price of cineplex tickets, you may want to save those conversations for in front of your DVD player.

Bottom line: There is no denying George Clooney's talent behind the camera. He already has Academy Award nominations under his belt for Good Night and Good Luck and we're certain he'll grab the Oscar soon. But something tells us that Ides of March won't be the movie to do it. Enjoy it for what it's worth, but don't expect to elect Ides to your 2011 Top 10 Movies list.

Do you enjoy watching political films? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Evan Rachel Wood, George Clooney, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Politics, Ryan Gosling, The Ides Of March