The Ides of March: the First Post-Obama Movie
The Ides of March might be the first post-Obama movie, and as such it’s an important film — not for what it thinks it is saying but for what it is actually says about the neverending disillusionment of liberals who, despite heroic efforts, can never quite escape reality.
The movie is entirely a far-left project, based on a play by a former Howard Dean aide, produced in part by Leonardo DiCaprio, and starring George Clooney, who also co-wrote and directed it. Watching it is like being a fly on the wall in a room full of ardent liberals who don’t realize they’re being watched, or how ridiculous they look — especially when they believe they are being very mature, deep, and serious.
The Ides of March takes place on the eve of an Ohio Democratic primary in which two contenders are neck and neck. One of them, a liberal Arkansas senator, we barely meet. The other is the handsome, charming Gov. Mark Morris (George Clooney), who incessantly defends liberal social issues (there is scarcely a word about economics in the entire film). Despite the extremism of this character (who disavows any religious beliefs and believes gay marriage is a basic civil right, in both cases placing him well to the left of the 2008 Obama campaign), we are led to believe that he will easily win the general election if he can defeat his Democratic rival. To stop this from happening, Rush Limbaugh and other conservatives launch “Operation Chaos,” in which they exhort the right wing to vote for Morris’s rival in the open Ohio primary.
Morris’s chief tacticians are his crusty, cynical campaign manager (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and a young, idealistic deputy (Ryan Gosling) who is only 30 but is already a political superstar due to his skill at spinning reporters such as Ida (Marisa Tomei), a New York Times writer who is constantly trying to leverage gossip to force the players involved to give her bigger scoops.
Spoilers lie ahead, but it wouldn’t be proper to write about the film without mentioning how idiotic its plot is. For all of the “insidery” goings on and the air of knowingness that accompanies the scenes inside the campaign office, we are obliged to believe that it constitutes a major scoop when Ida finds out the Gosling character had a beer with the chief (Paul Giamatti) of the rival campaign. There are all sorts of innocent reasons why these men might meet (they are, after all, both liberal Democrats), and even in the Times it would hardly constitute a major story. What would the headline be: “Political Operatives Have Conversation in Bar”? Yet this paltry item of micro-trivia sets off a chain reaction that could have historic consequences.
The other unbelievably moronic plot element involves a slutty intern (Evan Rachel Wood) who, after a one-night stand with Gov. Morris, gets pregnant — and is unable to come up with $900 for an abortion. Her dad is a Catholic ex-senator and the head of the DNC whom she dare not ask for the money (even though, back in reality, virtually all Catholic Democrats are vehement defenders of abortion). But a girl who grew up in the upper reaches of Washington must have hundreds of rich friends she could ask to loan her $900. Instead, she goes directly to Gov. Morris to ask him for the money, which threatens to derail his campaign.
No, George, it’s NOT my puerile distaste for middle-aged male nymphomaniacs that makes me shudder at the thought of a President Clooney. It’s your funny-shaped mouth — I really noticed it for the first time in Intolerable Cruelty. I hope this restores your faith in the American public.
Gotta say that comment made no sense at all. BTW- I am sure that George Clooney or the hundreds of supermodels he bangs gives a crap about your opinion regarding the shape of his mouth.
Actually, I thought it was pretty damned funny!
Clooney? Blond
spoiler alert: obamacare will pay for the abortion
Planned Parenthood will do the job and charge whatever you can afford. So, considering the cost of schools, prisons, and welfare for all those unwanted babies, shouldn’t we be supporting Planned Parenthood?
Okay, okay, I denounce myself.
You SHOULD denounce yourself for near-incapacitating stupidity. There might be good arguments in favor of abortion on a case by case basis, but that the babies weren’t wanted and therefore will be a drain on the system is NOT one of them. Steve Jobs was adopted, and therefore, I presume, unwanted by his birth parents. Leonardo DaVinci was illegitimate. Any number of luminaries of science and the arts were unwanted children. What does wanted or unwanted or the wealth of the parents have to do with where the children end up?
Note that those dependent on the government for sustenance do not abort the little subsidies in potentia. With a little more cheering on the part of people like you, perhaps the nation can abort itself into total dependence.
The Clooney character could pay for the abortion and as long as he wasn’t stupid, like other Democrat politicians, and paid for it out of his own pocket instead of his campaign funds no one would be the wiser.
Great review. It’s better than the movie, that I’m sure I’ll never see.
It’s too bad they had to drag Shakespeare into it with the title. If the film had any kind of integrity, it would have been called ‘The Ides Of February’ or ‘Bush Did It’, or ‘The Community Organizer’, something we could relate to, and Clooney would have been mulatto.
Is this film intended to be a Democrat propaganda opus for 2012, and if so will it be effective?
Maybe this is a weird thing to jump out at me from this article, but here it goes… an abortion only costs freakin’ 900 dollars?!?.
I mean, honestly, as a practicing cultural conservative, I’m a complete naif when it comes to the economics of abortion, but really? Hell, my old employer would have charged me 2/3rds of that much in monthly health insurance premiums, if we hadn’t had the good fortune of having better coverage through my wife’s employer.
It is interesting that liberals see the benefits of competitive free-market pricing for at least one good or service. Too bad they aren’t as obsessed with getting quality for money in anything that doesn’t involve the preservation of consequence-free sex.
I thought it cost less than even that.
If Clooney is in it, I won’t watch it. Shame about Paul Giamatti. . . . he was great in the John Adams miniseries, and Lady in the Water. . . was looking forward to his bit in The Goon movie, but now. . . .
Progressives can’t believe their mandates are failing in the mainstream so they make a movie to reflect their idealism.
Ignoring the economy is a perfect example of how progressives fail to recognize that capitalism is the very engine of all free societies.
Count this films among the bombs that reflect idealism over reality. Propaganda pure and simple
Their is an entire town in Nevada that sells the idea that you can get something for nothing.
The problem is Hollywood is against gambling but still believes in winning without taking risk …
That’s why you have people marching in NY who have no collective message uther than
‘I’m entitled to a free ride at your expense”
I would love to see this turn into a TV series. A follow on to the West Wing. The reason GWB was elected twice is that Martin Sheen was, to those that mattered, the real president.
Define “those that mattered,” please.
Ed, I really shouldn’t name names, but those that matter do get invited into everyone’s house every night. They always leave when the news comes on. Well, almost always – sometimes not.
“The reason GWB was elected twice is that Martin Sheen was, to those that nattered, the real president.”
FTFY.
I saw what you did there.
Heh.
Ahh – much better, thank you.
Still laughing….
Washington DC is in Nevada? No wonder I’m always so turned around when I’m there. And I blamed it on the Metro…
“…liberal presidents invariably get cut down in the polls according to how many liberal schemes they promote…”
Are those poles in lower slobovia?
Anyway, not this time. Look at the American public. They’re in the streets “protesting” everything’n'stuff. They’ll gladly accept any ‘diktat’ by whichever demagogue.
Dreamer!
Um, perhaps you should look at the President’s poll numbers – or even those of Congress.
Another reason I haven’t been to a movie theater in years.
The ultimate irony is of course that if such a candidate was real and openly advocating such issues any people in “operation chaos” would be voting for him in spades, not against.
The reviews I’ve seen in the Legacy Media have all been positive to the point of raves. That was to be expected, I suppose.
One more movie I won’t bother to watch.
PJ Lifestyle: Watching movies so I don’t have to!
Yep, you dodged a bullet there…And PJMedia took one for the team!
Huzzah!! PJMedia Huzzah!!
Well, there’s another movie I can happily miss. I’m just wondering, is it in 3-D? I’m sure Clooney, given his ego, would love to see himself actually standing out in front of you while you are tortured by this film. But fear not, George. Even though this film will probably be a bomb at the box office (this really doesn’t strike me as “must see”), I’m sure it will receive a ton of Oscar nominations from all the liberals in Hollywood. Count on it. To them, George is living the dream and as all good left-wingers do, they will follow.
Has there ever, EVER, been a decent movie made about the entire life of Teddy Roosevelt or Eisenhower? Na, I’m sure nothing like that would ever stand a chance in center-right America, hmmm. I’m just wondering if anybody in Hollywood would have the guts to do it. I know I’ll have a long wait.
I think the plot of my forthcoming novel, NIKITA, is closer to reality and should be the second post Obama movie, (my mouth to God’s ears).
At least the plot plays close to our sad reality and the underlying idea could explain a lot.
See you at the bookstores …or with a great deal of luck, at the movies
(even though, back in reality, virtually all Catholic Democrats are vehement defenders of abortion)
Surely there are one or two who aren’t so politically ambitious they will kill their own grandchild to keep voters from finding out their daughter is a tramp…
I do hear a lot of pro-aborts of assorted religious status use the “I would never do it myself because it’s wrong, I just support the right of other women to do this wrong.” Very compassionate. *snort*
“Backer of the Constitution”, of what organization/government. Is movie referring to the European Union or some other Sovereign rule? Maybe they will rewrite the constitution by the movies premiere & President Obama’s fundamental transformation of the United States will be complete.
Thanks for the reveiw. It saved me seven bucks this weekend.
Apollo,
You need to vet movies like the MSM vets Republicans. This movie was produced by George Clooney. That’s enough investigation. This movie will be awful.
Clooney and neo-liberalism. Pulverized horse manure at its finest!
“Watching George Clooney’s new movie ”
That’s where you went wrong in the first place. Never watch an enemy propagandist’s movie.
It is time to reinstate the 20% excise tax on revenues from, generally, movies, theaters television. Then let’s see how important economic issues are and how liberal these guys are.
I very rarely go to films, but watch two or three a week at home on netflix. Almost none of them are of recent vintage and none have George and his ilk in them.
On a completely different film note, over the past few months I have noted that in films set in contemporary England, the criminals all have firearms. The citizens don’t, but the criminals do and they are easy to obtain. That is a sea change from a few years back. Is England getting primed for its Dirty Harry moment?
Sorry, but essentially you are arguing that the government should tax free speech.
You are forgetting that your 20% tax would apply to politically-themed movies we on the right agree with.
Let the market decide if Looney Clooney’s ideas have merit.
The more left-wing candidate will get elected, if only he can get the nomination? Because he’ll be so much more popular with the Republicans?
Of course economics is ignored, there failure or success is evident, you can’t posture and preach though you can lie, about results, this thing called the real world. CLooney does what it always takes to be a leftist, he closes both his eyes and his mind.
I love the bit about gay issues being the same as the civil rights campaign, remember, a gay person has to inform you of his status, a bit different from being African-American. But when you’re desperate for causes and sanctimony who cares.
The trailer for the film is as boring as one of Obama’s press conferences.
Let me get this straight. This is an OHIO Democratic primary, yet one of the candidates is a senator from Arkansas? I know we have open primaries here, but isn’t that a bit ridiculous? Only a liberal could write such a screenplay.
I’m assuming the primary is for the presidential race.
Has anyone noticed that most of Clooney’s films of late have premiered in the late fall? Obviously he’s getting paid to “ACT” in agit-prop dreck motion pictures and not a whole lot of folks care or watch. Another leftist flop that I won’t be seeing, not even on cable.
This web site has delved into sickness. How can anyone with any compassion attack George Clooney? He is a great man who works tirelessly to help the less fortunate. I read this article and was so blown away by the author’s ignorance that I felt compelled to call my Life Coach. I needed some immediate advice and direction. Sasha told me to channel my feelings toward the source of my anger, but to do so in a creative way that, hopefully, will penetrate the thick ignorant armor of my instigators. So here is my attempt to reach all of you through that ancient poetic art form of Haiku:
Crazy neocons
destructive and hateful
gay killers
never bi-curious
haters of life
snuffers of hope
negro president?
destroy!
mocha cappucino?
HATE!
Please take the time to digest this. I’m really hoping that it will reach some of you before your hate engulfs us all.
Better get your money back from Sasha. Your mission failed!
So close, yet so idiotic. The man is afflicted with a terminal case of cognitive dissonance. He preaches gigantic totalitarian (liberal progressive) govt here in the United States and then speaks out against the same thing overseas where said liberal progressive totalitarian govt abuses it’s citizens. I completely support him speaking out against totalitarian govt overseas.
BTW,
“gay killers” would be those Muslim regimes you leftists support.
“negro” would be a term used by your leftist hero Che.
“haters of life” would be more appropriately applied to the abortionist left.
“never bi-curious” Not really. I’d love to watch your wife munch carpet.
“mocha cappucino” Best used when referring to my half-white, half-mexican children?
“Life Coach” LMAO! loser.
So here is my attempt to reach you through that ancient poetic art form of English slang:
Yera dumbass.
“Yera dumbass.”
I think you might consider rereading.
Lovely, you need to get out of the upper west side. Or izzit the upper east side?
Either way, this advice is worth more than what you pay your greedy stable of goo-roos, combined.
5¢ please
Correctomundo! Personally, I believe donating a smallish nuke to al Queda would be a reasonable gamble that they’d leave a glowing crater where Manhattan used to be rather than targeting a city in America.
Apparently, you aren’t familiar with the rules of Haiku. Here’s a refresher:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku. You’ll need to delete the vast majority of your proposed haiku to conform to the rules.
LovelyEArth, that was classic. A moment to be savored. But no one will ever know if you are a real liberal or not, if such liberals actually exist outside of the heads of rightwing satirists.
Amen!
LovelyEarth, Get back into your cell! And take your meds. Whew !!
You can’t make this stuff up; or can you?
Mother Earth! How good to have you back! PJM has not been the same without you. I think your haiku went a little over the 17 syllable (technically “on”) limit though.
How can anyone with any compassion attack George Clooney?
A combination of a certain natural talent, years of concerted study, and a target-rich environment.
Lovely,
You really needed to add sarcasm tags, some people didn’t get the joke.
You are unfair to us satirists, sir. Anyone who needs guidelines to know something is satire should, in the words of the immortal Rodney Dangerfield, go back to school.
Bravo, Lovely Earth. My favorite line: “I read this article and was so blown away by the author’s ignorance that I felt compelled to call my Life Coach.”
Do you seriously need sarcasm quotes for that?
Quite brilliant, LovelyEarth. Except your haiku is way too long. I’m more than a little embarrassed that almost no one got the joke. Reading the angry comments reminded me of the ones Greg Gutfeld used to get when he posted as a gay man on Huffington Post. Herman Cain is so right, “America needs to lighten up.” IT WAS SATIRE, PEOPLE!
This reached me, and touched me deeply…
Free clue: the definition of “poem” is NOT “numerous short lines of verbalisms masking as verse”.
I dunno, Anna, it seemed to work pretty well for that Nobel-winning Swedish Transformer guy.
LovelyEarth: The liberal-left-newage world has become so peculiar that it is impossible to parody in such a way that people can tell it’s a parody rather than the real thing.
My bet is that whoever you are, you’re just having fun.
14 syllabels only please.
Hilarious, Lovely Earth. I agree with the person who noted that leftists are so dumb that this could have actually been written by one; thus the confusion of our readership.
Hats off to you, Mr. Boot. You voluntarily subject yourself to two or three hours of George Clooney’s mind-deadening, soul-killing drivel so the rest of us don’t have to. I don’t know how you do it. I know I couldn’t.
#25 I’m glad I didn’t have any liquids in my mouth when I read your post, otherwise I would have blown it all over my computer screen. The great thing about it is that many “progs” would fail to see the satire. “Well, yeah, I like completely agree.” Brilliant.
And another thing… What I enjoy most when idiot movies like this come out (a regular Hollywood feature), after reading this (and Thanks!), is reading the earnest supportive reviews of idiot leftwing movie reviewers of most major media outlets. “Important!” “Serious!” “A movie for our time!” Well, let’s just go over to rottentomatoes.com and soak it all up.
There’s something so typical about this. They never lose a battle. It’s just that at the last minute there’s always some trick, some fraud or switcheroo, some swiftboat-octobersurprise-stabintheback that does them in. Otherwise they would always win bigtime, obviously.
And the more they believe this, the more ill their own intentions become. Since they believe they only lose due to “tricks” employed by the other side, they feel more justified using tricks of their own the next time.
Like the Germans after WWI.
Oh, this is just hilarious – 81% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes (Who would have thought that?) http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_ides_of_march/reviews/?type=top_critics
Samples: “Clooney has a keen eye for a good story. With this, his fourth turn as a director, he has chosen wisely.”
“Clooney makes his points without preaching, directing his fellow performers with an actor’s appreciation of their craft.”
Lovely, that haiku touched me. Places you really shouldn’t be touching me without buying me dinner first.
Lovely, you should get a new non-Haiku Life Coach.
Hey, a lib can dream, can’t he?
Is this film a parody ?
On and off screen, George Clooney has always struck me as a parody.
A shallow Narcissus, seeking gravitas as a Bobby Redford imitation.
LovelyEarth, thanks for making me laugh! Have some more Kool-Aid!
I saw Ides of March at a free preview on Wednesday, and the politic behind the sceens action was intereting.
When Clooney, as his character, goes into his Obama type rants about solar and other liberal delights, nearly lost it.
And in related article, it seems that a lot of people are starting to put actors on a pay to watch list, where if they don’t agree with their politics they won’t pay to see the film. I know that I won’t pay or support any film that Sean Penn is in.
As it was, the film is very short, but felt much longer. Sort of like being in a chinese water tortue, waiting for the next liberal rant, which really didn’t move the movie along. And that is too bad.
There was a film that Redford did years ago, where American troops at the end were caught in a fire fight and instead of having them saved, Redford had the troops die. Went from an interesting movie, to a complete downer. Went from possibly being very uplifting to a downer.
Libs don’t get this and this further proves that they are a little brain dead when it comes to business and how business operates.
Seem to recall that people like Michael Jordan and others, kept political rhetoric to minimal because they were capitalists.
What a complete lie it is to portray a catholic Democrat politician would oppose his daughter having an abortion. There is not one Democrat who has any moral qualms about abortion and catholic Democrats are the biggest supporters of abortion in the world; videlicet; Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden,Bob Casey, Chris Dodd, etc etc.
Would-be President Clooney worships the Constitution but thinks the president can outlaw internal-combustion engines by executive order?
And why wouldn’t he just give the intern the abortion money? If she keeps her mouth shut, he’s fine. If she says he knocked her up, he’s in trouble whether he helped her or not. It’s more interesting if she doesn’t want an abortion as in the John Edwards case.
Good catch, Joanne, on that worship the Constitution/outlaw internal-combustion engine self-contradiction.
I’d love to see the movie but I want someone else to pay for my ticket.
I wouldn’t go to see this movie EVEN IF someone else paid for my ticket!
I wouldn’t go see it even if someone else bought the ticket, and bought me dinner first!
I believe my record of never having seen a George Clooney film is not at risk. (I do admit to having a few Rosemary Clooney CDs.)
I think these rubes make movies for themselves. It’s all about ‘me’. To coin a phrase: Of the Actors, By the Actors, and For the Actors.
Good ol’ George. Putting the “loon” in Clooney since … well, forever really.
Didn’t Clooney say this wasn’t a liberal film??? Thank you for the review. Not that I was going to see it anyway, but glad to know.
Clooneyt probably “believes” this is not a lefty movie. Lefties see themselves as middle-of-the-road, average guys.
he had a “one night stand” and didn’t use a condom? SHAME.
Why is the abortion cost so high? I heard in Texas the RU-486 abortion pill is only about $500. Which is $100 more than the surgery, I think. Does anyone know? Did they elevate the price to make a make a liberal point?
I just got back from watching the film right across the river from Cincinnati. Clooney will definitely be nominated for an Oscar for directing.
Here is my primary impression: Mike Morris, the Clooney Character, is to liberal politics what Elmer Gantry represents to Christian believers – a big disappointment. The audience knows at the end what a moral failure he is, even though it is left believing he will probably end up President.
The Ryan Gosling character, young idealistic true-believer campaign manager Stephen Myers, ends up totally disillusioned but bound by ambition to his candidate.
If the intent of this movie is to push a liberal agenda and get people out to vote for Obama, someone made a horrible mistake. The people this will resonate with are the people who now lament that they were taken in by his siren song.
DO I have this right-
a Dem runs for Senate but he gets a girl preganant but this shouldn’t matter because he’s a nice guy with all the correct liberal positions?
really? that’s their movie?
I can hardly wait for this movie to show up at hulu or Netflix. It sounds screamingly funny. I wish I had more tolerance for movie theaters because I would love to go see it just to laugh at all the really serious, meaningful parts.
THIS is how the Left scripts a masturbatory fantasy? Really? They think the president has the (non-existent) authority to ban a VITAL piece of of our transportation infrastructure via “Executive Fiat”? Can you say Constitutional Crisis?
Oh, right. They want to ban that too. Pesky Republic.
Boycott all these liberal actors. They get our money which in turn gives them the platform to spew their left wing poop!
I just saw this flick tonight, I and my (also) politically-knowledgable Conservative buddy. I enjoyed it.
Please allow me a couple corrections to the record.
Clooney plays the looney. His opponent is a conservative Dem, who was grilling him on his completely liberal social issues. Clooney promised in unconvincing, terms, some of the ridiculous Leftist agenda. He really did not sound like a candidate, but whatever. (I think it may have been purposely that way. I dunno. The rest of the movie showed the crassness of everything, so why not the policy positions?)
The opposing campaign directors know each other, and are rivals, each correctly considering the other a jackass. They are on opposite sides, but play exactly the same way.
The idealistic aide is not so idealistic, either. While spouting his avid belief in his candidate, he still engages in dirty politics himself. He says to accuse the opposition of having conflict diamond mines, so he has to deny it. He gets $1800 from the campaign for the abortion and the ticket home for the girl, specifically telling the campaign treasurer to keep it off the books.
The scandal is not that he met with the opposition, although that is a big issue with his boss. The scandal is that he spilled the beans to the opposition about the negotiations ongoing with this critical North Carolina Super-delegate, or whatever he is. (He did not seem to fit with my knowledge of the Dem primary system. But, hey, this is complete fiction, okay?) He seems to have 357 delegate votes in his pocket somehow. (From NC?) The story is leaked by his own boss in order to discredit the aide and fire him for having met the guy at all. (He is a spy or a turncoat, looking for a better-paying job or whatever.)
The married Governor took advantage of the intern one night, and knocked her up. The aide does damage control, when he finds out. He finds out after he himself sleeps with her (his employee/intern), of course. He fires her for screwing up, then pleads for his own job, even though he screwed up. “It was a mistake!” (All kinds of hypocrisy in this flick, all throughout. I think it is intentional.)
The rest of it is the dirty politics and jaded cynicism. My favorite part was where one campaign director tells the aide, “The Republicans are smart and organized, and we should learn from them.” (Definitely intentional.)
It was all about sleazy and ridiculous politics. No one is a good guy here. I think that was the point. Completely jaded view. I agree with Clooney, that this is not a Lefty film. None of the Dems look good.
I also saw the film, and liked it alot. All of the actors did good jobs. It was poignant, as a ‘post-Obama movie’ – which was, I think, a trenchant observation by the above author. It definitely smelled of the type of hangover that follows one’s most precious ideals being shattered. I do think that liberals of all stripes (and not a few independents) have come out from the last three years sadder (and if they are lucky – and a few may be) – wiser.I definitely think (based on watching the film) that Clooney is among the first category, though likely not the second.
Sounds like the plot to a John Edwards movie bio. The other thing is what liberal is worried about $900 of someone else s money (pay out of my pocket? Hell no, use campaign funds). The plot, written by simpletons for simpletons. Gosh!
Too much damn democracy. Back in the 90′s, when I was a bona fide useful idiot in British Columbia my guys, the New Democrats, won the provincial election and quickly proved they were socialists first, democrats last. A recall provision was approved by voters at the same time. The NDP created recall legislation that made a successful recall of politicians almost impossible. That was the first wake up call for me that I was not an NDPer. That was followed by several years of hypocrisy, incompetence and corruption.
My wife and I saw this yesterday and liked it. Despite the glaringly obvious anti-Republican lying propaganda in the first third of the movie, the rest was good. To accuse the Republicans of being sharp, tough operators getting down in the mud to win an election (a clear example of projection if ever there was one) is a joke. Republicans are the most stupid spineless politicos ever invented. Democrats run circles around them in politicking and dirty dealing. It was fascinating to see the complications that arose from Steve’s simple meeting with Duffy, added to the mess that arose from him making it with Molly the intern and then finding out he was getting seconds after his big idealistic, no compromise deity Gov Morris had his turn compromising his overblown morals and principles. The strategies of each as they played their opponents was probably very true in showing us what goes on in any political campaign, Republican or Democrat. It was well written and acted, but an obvious Obama love-a-thon. It must be considered to be nothing but a campaign contribution to Obama. At the end when Steve was being interviewed on the results of the campaign, my wife and I agreed that he would keep the coverup going as to do otherwise would torpedo his career. And as we know, politicians are owned and driven by ambition. He will ride Morris and the lies into the White House to feed his ambition. The movie was eminently on target in depicting politicians as the dirtiest, filthiest, lying scumbags on earth, willing to do ANYTHING to feed their ambition. And it showed most clearly as Democrats being that. I believe the ending overwhelmed the anti-Republican propaganda at the beginning. I think audiences will come away from it remembering only the most recent stuff on screen, despising Democrats as the most loathsome scum anywhere. And if they’re sensible, they will realize Republicans aren’t far behind.
Don’t waste your time or money on this piece of crap. Want to see a good – no great movie? Go see “Courageous.”
I saw it last night. I wouldn’t recommend it, but not for the reasons above. (The review is fine.) It’s just not a good movie. It’s an adaptation of a play, and probably not a very good play. Philip Seymour Hoffman is excellent. So is Paul Giamatti. The acting is good considered the tepid material.
One thing to keep in mind is that there is a screaming irony here … these are all liberals, and they all talk about how they’re too nice and all, and then they rip each other to shreds. Kinda like real liberals.
I’m sure the irony was unintentional, but there is a conservative reading of this that’s just fine.
Still, the problem isn’t the politics (see irony section) but it’s boring.
If you want to see a good political movie, see Moneyball. It is all about how much does it cost and what do you get for your money as opposed to all the high minded drivel of this liberal flick which is also about how much does it cost and what do you get for your money.
Why, oh Why do Conservatives pay money to advance Hollywood? I will never understand this. No Theater, no movies, no netflix, no video rental or purchase. When they no longer get 5-10 million per movie, they can retire and ponder the real world.
No Jane, no Sean, no Susan, no Michael. I’m just one little person at a time, join me?
This is exactly what my husband & I have been doing for yrs. We can’t stand the nonsensical drivel being churned out now from La-La land, and as you correctly point out, won’t give any $$ or our presence to promote/legitimize movies such as this. We end up most times watching the classic movie channel (except when they have film fests that celebrate the same junk thinking: by and for Hlywd).
Clooney should have had the affair with a Male Intern. I think the gay love scene would be an Oscar winner.
After reading the article and comments here, I saw the movie. I think everyone is over-analyzing. The focus of the film isn’t Clooney’s character. The focus is Ryan Gosling’s character, the idealistic campaign operative.
Sure, Clooney gets to make a couple speeches where he uncorks all the usual liberal bromides but that’s not the point of the story. This film is far less partisan that what we see every evening on MSNBC, or even ABC, NBC or CBS.
It’s an interesting story about backroom political intrigue, well told and well directed. And any film with Richard Semour Hoffman in it is worth seeing. Go see it. You’ll like it.
Why not watch the original with Tom Selleck “Running Mates” is a good movie with a good cast. Selleck, a conservative, makes a good liberal democratic candidate. Or go back further to Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson in “The Best Man”.
Wasn’t “The Best Man” written by that famous arch-conservative Gore Vidal? “Advise and Consent” by Allen Drury is quite good too.
“Spoilers” only apply to movies we’re actually going to see, and I can assure this far Left trash isn’t one of them.
here is the thing.
its about a man gaining the world and losing his soul.
gosling, in my opinion, did here what pacino did in the Godfather.
look at his face in the last scene.
great work there, my man.
an idealistic young man goes for the power. and loses his innocence.
Forget “Occupy Wall Street.” Occupy Clooneyland. Talk about a rich, out of touch corporation….
There is a clear bright line running through Hollywood. On the side that knows how thick the liberalism is Mel Gibson. On the otherside where the actors are a few bricks short of a load is George Clooney. The parts can be near identical but it is never certain that George Clooney knows after the cameras stop that his co-stars are talking to space aliens who aren’t there.
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