Ides Of March Review

• 9th Oct 2011

Ryan Gosling stars as Stephen Meyers, a press secretary trying to get Governor Morris elected as the Democratic nominee for the White House. The film centres around Meyers’ fall from grace and the sacrifices he makes to remain a key political figure. It’s an honest portrayal of American politics and the type of person you need to become in order to survive within it.

George Clooney stars as Governor Morris, a seemingly wholesome candidate with revolutionary ideas. Meyers has complete faith in him until he discovers that Morris is not as incorruptible as he repeatedly indicates he is. Evan Rachel Wood is absolutely convincing as Molly, the intelligent, hard-working young intern. With the naivety of youth, she makes a mistake and her life unravels to the point where she is absolutely vulnerable and no longer able to defend herself.

Ides of March is a great study in how far belief will get you and the realisation that ruthless ambition could take you further. There are no ‘bad’ characters here, apart from perhaps the Governor himself. This is a credit to Phillip Seymour Hoffman, playing Paul Zara, Meyers’ boss and Paul Giamatti as Tom Duffy, the other candidate’s Campaign Manager. Their use of Meyers as a pawn in the process is delivered without malice. Everyone is simply doing their job and struggling to stay in the game. Their candidate is King and the end justifies the means.

Interestingly, the film covers only a short period of time within the primaries itself, we don’t learn who wins or what happens to the characters once they make it to the White House. The focus of the film is the character arc that Meyers travels through; from idealistic, honest and trusting to manipulative and cynical.

The film moves quickly and requires no real knowledge of American politics. In a pace matching the frenzy of the election itself, Meyers is constantly struggling to keep ahead of everyone else. The script is sharp, lean and witty and delivered through outstanding performances by everyone.  Gosling, very much flavour of the month at the minute, delivers Meyers comfortably and credibly. He has a real skill for being immersed in a character and scrutinising whoever else is in the scene, as if thinking and reacting in that moment. This gives off an air of despair as events unfold around him and he’s initially unable to control his own life.

Although the story of Meyers runs central, there are two strong but subtly played subtexts. The snippets of Governor Morris’ speech indicate an idealistic view of American topics; the right to worship freely and privately, gay marriage as a human rights issue, a weaning off of the dependence on oil, a pro-peace message.  He stands on platforms that any West Wing fan will know are impossible to support during an election.

Another of the more subversive themes is realised through the two main young characters, Meyers and Molly, are ruined by the machinations of the seasoned veterans in the political game. There’s a scene where Meyers pushes National Service for under 18’s, stating that those over 18 would vote for it, and those under 18 cant vote against it. Everyone in the room starts laughing, despite only just being exempt from it. They’re happy to screw over the younger generation and it feels like the film is trying to say something about how politics isn’t about that younger generation, it isn’t forward looking. They repeat the mantra of four years and its spikes that question of what can you really change in that fleeting time. And what are you sacrificing just to gain power for four years.

The film ends as it begins, with Meyers speaking into a camera, but in two very different contexts. The high contrast highlights the journey we’ve been on with Meyers during these 98 minutes. Although initially disappointed with the length, it is a perfectly proportioned piece and adds to the sense of the destructive pace of politics; react and survive or just be another victim to the process.  George Clooney has added another film to his succession of interesting political films such as Good Night and Good Luck and Syriana, and it may be the most insightful one yet.

Maliha Basak