Film File - The Ides Of March

'The Ides of March' takes place during the last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, when an up-and-coming press secretary Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to derail his candidate's shot at the presidency. A tale involving sex, ambition, betrayal and revenge, the film follows the young press spokesman as he falls prey to backroom politics, the treacherous manipulations of veteran operatives and the seduction that so often goes hand in glove with power. Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney) is the candidate running in the presidential primary race for the Democratic Party ticket, aided by his sharp campaign manager Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Molly Stearns (Evan Rachel Wood) is an impressionable intern for the Morris campaign, and Ida Horowicz (Marisa Tomei) a tough New York Times reporter. In the opposing camp, Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti) is the rival campaign manager, with Jeffrey Wright playing a key senator, Max Minghella as another Morris campaign worker, and Jennifer Ehle as Morris's wife. Clooney, who directs and co-wrote the screenplay with Grant Heslov, describes the film as a thriller that he thinks will appeal to both persuasions in American politics. "If you're a Democrat, you'll like the beginning of the movie best, and if you're a Republican, you'll like the end best. It walks that line of picking on everybody," he says. The politics serve as a backdrop to the character arc and changes in motivation experienced by the main character, Stephen Meyers - a shrewd operator who finds his idealism taking a back seat to shadowy political dealings and manipulative power plays. The film is based on the 2004 play, 'Farragut North' by Beau Willimon, a writer who drew on his experiences of working on the staff of presidential hopeful Howard Dean's campaign in Iowa. Translating the play to screen involved a number of changes - not least of which is Governor Morris becomes an actual character (he never appeared in the play). In order to set up a good piece of storytelling, a character whom everyone believes in is devised - just so he can be blown out of the water, says Clooney. In the beginning, he looks innocent and honourable - until we find out he's the least honourable of them all. Placing the primary on 15th March allowed the filmmakers bring in Shakespearean themes, not to mention a good title. Clooney encouraged his cast to watch various campaign documentaries, such as 'The War Room', which traced Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential bid; 'Journeys With George', about George W Bush's 2000 campaign for the White House, and 'By the People: The Election of Barack Obama'. The filmmakers also watched 'Primary', a groundbreaking documentary which followed presidential hopefuls John F Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey during the 1960 Wisconsin primary. Stuart Stevens, a Republican campaign strategist and political advisor who worked on a number of presidential campaigns, was also part of the film's creative team. It's no secret that politics is a dirty business - just look at our own race for the Áras if you want proof of that. Populated by one of the best casts in any film this year - there's at least a dozen Oscar nominations on display - 'The Ides Of March' is a hard film to criticise. Originally scheduled for release in 2008, Clooney decided to hold back due to the huge groundswell of optimism following Obama's victory. Knowing well, of course, that all political careers will eventually crash and burn, as Obama's is currently in the process of doing, he knew a more suitable release date would present itself in short order. The story has some lovely twists, a few wonderful characterisations, particularly Hoffman and Giamatti, and a script where even minor roles get decent dialogue. Just as he proved with 'Good Night & Good Luck' a few years ago, Clooney has a keen ear for the nuances of American life, and delivers here as good a political movie as has been made in the last 10 years. Gosling, as he's done for the past year, owns the film, dominating every scene he's in - but is hugely well supported by a cast, director and script that makes this film a pleasure to watch. There are a few quibbles, sure, but overall, this one is a winner. Clooney for President.