TIFF Review: The Ides of March

Apparently George Clooney has decided it's acceptable to be critical of the U.S. government again.

As the Toronto International Film Festival comes to a close this weekend, arts writer Joseph Belanger shares his thoughts on one of TIFF's featured films. The Ides of March was written by George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Beau Willimon, directed by George Clooney, and stars Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Evan Rachel Wood.

George Clooney has been mulling making The Ides of March for a few years now. When he first wanted to make it in 2008, he decided to put his plans on hold because of the political climate. The United States was on the cusp of a monumental election and a financial crisis, and he did not want to take advantage of either. Three years later, though, Clooney and his long-time production partner, Grant Heslov ( Good Night, and Good Luck), think the timing is right to unveil their political thriller to the voting public. Apparently, it is acceptable to be critical of their government again.

Clooney plays Governor Mike Morris, a seemingly genuine and upstanding gentleman, who is trying to secure the Democratic Party nomination for the upcoming presidential race. Naturally, nothing is as it seems, and it would appear that no one can get to such great heights without stepping over a few people along the way. To get to his position, you also need a crack team behind you, and Governor Morris’s includes actors as diverse and talented as Philip Seymour Hoffman, Evan Rachel Wood, and Ryan Gosling. Hoffman is the veteran, Wood is the intern, and Gosling is the shiny new guy who is clearly on his way to greater things. In fact, Gosling’s career as an actor appears to mirror the position of his character, Stephen Myers. The man is certainly on his own streak, and his lead performance here is another that will continue to propel him forward.

The Ides of March is a compelling and engaging thriller, despite not bringing much that is new to the table. Gosling’s Stephen gets caught up in the political crossfire behind the campaign scenes, and it becomes a pretty harrowing challenge for him to ensure he comes out ahead of everyone else. And while Clooney’s execution is smooth and effective, it does cater a little too often to his own political views. Clooney did not want his character to be a Republican, as he thought the criticism would be too obvious. As a Democrat, though, he gets the chance to voice all of his platforms on topics as heated as gay marriage and tax incentives for the super rich. Everything he says seems so sensible that the film becomes something of a criticism for all politicians, as if to suggest that it could be as easy as he claims if they would just get it together.

While Clooney may not be ready to run for president, he earns my vote for being a top-notch film director.

Photo courtesy of Reuters.