The Ides of March

Bea says: This was one of those great experiences where I knew relatively little about a film, and loved it. All I knew about this one was that it was something to do with US politics, and as Cecil and I are just returned from Washington DC, it fitted with our recent experiences.

For me the film was about the process of disillusionment. It follows a few days in the working life of Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling), a young and talented staffer to the democrat presidential candidate, the film opening with the candidate, Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney) delivering an inspiring speech about the future of America, and Myers watching with face shining with hope and belief.

As the days progress however, Myers unwittingly uncovers a secret about Morris, and he also lets his talent go slightly to his head, unwisely mis-timing a set-up meeting with the opposing candidate’s people, and even more unwisely confiding in head staffer Paul Zara (the brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman) about it.

In retrospect, I am not sure how well these actions actually fit with Myers’ character – a highly experienced, talented and bright young up and coming staffer might not have made these mistakes. However, Zara promptly boots him off the campaign, and Myers promptly uses his knowledge of Morris’ dirt to get Zara booted off and get himself back on the campaign.

In the final scene Morris is giving yet another inspiring speech about the future of America, and Myers watches him, stony faced.

Beware indeed the ides of March….made me want to read Julius Caesar, and how many films can you say that about?

***.5

Cecil says: As Bea said, coming just after our year in Washington, it all felt very plausible and very real, though it leaves you without much hope or belief in the future...There was a dark tone to this film, emphasised perhaps by the long scenes totally devoid of soundtrack, so it felt all the more real because, let’s face it, most of our conversations are not backed by violins or trumpets, however much we may fantasise about such things.

The trouble with US politics, even more than politics in the UK, is that it is so tribal. You’re either Republican or Democrat; you’re with Candidate X or Candidate Y; you have to choose sides. And if you want a great career in the political scene, you damn well need to make sure you choose the right side (though can’t be bad when the ‘loser’ in this film goes off with a $1m contract with a consultancy afterwards – but I guess, as Bea said after the film, if that’s not what you wanted, then you will go off head hanging low and tail between your legs).

The whole world became aware of the notion of the political ‘intern’ during the Clinton Administration. Bea and I got to see lots of them on the West Wing before we went to DC; and then met loads of those types for real along the corridors of the Capitol (though the interns I worked with personally were not at all like Monica Lewinski!). And, sure enough, in Ides of March here’s another character that fits the ambitious, but glamorous intern image, playing a crucial – but ultimately tragic – role in this film.

I think maybe I saw this film a little too soon after my year in Washington, where my contact with this political world left me more cynical than awestruck, and if you’re already cynical about politics, then this film will do nothing to move you in the other direction.

Having said that, written by George Clooney, directed by George Clooney, and starring George Clooney, is this the opening bid in a presidential campaign for 2016?

It’s a good film, though and deserved more of an audience than the dozen or so souls who braved a dark night down at the Station in Richmond...

***