The Ides of March - Tage des Verrats (The Ides of March) 
U.S.A.
2011
Opening 22 Dec 2011
Directed by:
George Clooney
Writing credits:
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon
Principal actors:
Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood
Based on Beau Williamson’s 2008 play Farragut North, this release is perfectly timed as an insightful insider comment to the ongoing 2012 presidential primaries in the USA. Thirty-year old Stephan Meyers (Ryan Gosling) is an idealistic shooting star campaign advisor for Mike Morris (George Clooney) going into the Ohio primaries. Beware of the twists and turns as political scandal and manipulation threaten to upset Caesar/Morris’ campaign. Sneaky plots abound, along with great acting from the entire stellar cast, including opposing campaign managers (Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman), newspaper hack (Marisa Tomei) and Morris’ lovely intern (Evan Rachel Wood). All are Oscar material.
The film’s ending is truly great (don’t worry, no spoiler); when asked how this whole thing unfolded, how will he truthfully answer the question? The Ides of March, also written and directed by Clooney, refers to March 15, the ominous day, immortalized by William Shakespeare, when Julius Caesar would be assassinated. (Nancy Tilitz)
