The Ides of March (2011)
Average Rating: 7.4/10
Reviews Counted: 217
Fresh: 184 | Rotten: 33
While not exactly exposing revelatory truths, The Ides of March is supremely well-acted drama that moves at a measured, confident clip.
Average Rating: 7.4/10
Critic Reviews: 46
Fresh: 35 | Rotten: 11
While not exactly exposing revelatory truths, The Ides of March is supremely well-acted drama that moves at a measured, confident clip.
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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 58,545
Movie Info
The Ides of March takes place during the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, when an up-and-coming campaign press secretary (Ryan Gosling) finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate's shot at the presidency. -- (C) Sony Pictures
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Cast
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Ryan Gosling
Stephen Meyers -
George Clooney
Governor Mike Morris -
Philip Seymour Hoffm...
Paul Zara Philip -
Paul Giamatti
Tom Duffy -
Evan Rachel Wood
Molly Stearns -
Marisa Tomei
ida Horowicz -
Jeffrey Wright
Senator Thompson -
Max Minghella
Ben Harpen -
Jennifer Ehle
Cindy Morris -
Gregory Itzin
Jack Stearns -
Michael Mantell
Senator Pullman -
Yuriy Sardarov
Mike -
Bella Ivory
Jenny -
Maya Sayre
Sue -
Danny Mooney
Campaign Editor -
John Manfredi
Advance Guy -
Robert Mervak
Piano Player -
Fabio Polanco
Security Guard -
Frank Jones, Jr.
Janitor -
Rohn Thomas
Stage Manager -
Peter Harpen
Head First Bartender -
David McConnell
Director -
Mark Stacey White
Sound Man -
Lauren Wainwright
Student #1 -
Kris Reilly
Student #2 -
Michael D. Ellison
Pullman Staffer -
Jill Hayley Meyers
Pullman Staffer -
Leslie McCurdy
Clinic Nurse -
Rob Braun
Himself -
Rachel Maddow
Herself -
Chris Matthews
Himself -
Charlie Rose
Himself -
Deb Dixon
Local Anchor -
Neal Anthony Rubin
Reporter #1 -
Loretta Higgins
Reporter #2 -
Joe Dinda
Joe the Staffer -
John Repulski
Organist -
Cherie Bowman
Air Tran Ticket Agen...
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The Ides of March Trailer & Photos
All Critics (221) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (184) | Rotten (33) | DVD (4)
At its best, the film is like a political version of Sweet Smell of Success, another movie where the corruption was so rampant it gleamed.
Top CriticAs for Clooney, when he steps from behind the camera, his candidate exudes an easy, judicious authority.
This is intelligent filmmaking, and a provocative moral fable. It may not be perfect, but it stands as one of the better, most realistic movies about the way we elect our leaders.
From the film's ideological vantage point, moderate Democrats are Machiavellian devils, and Republicans are an inconceivable evil looming on a distant horizon, like the White Walkers in Game of Thrones.
The Ides of March is a well-made actors showcase and fine film. But it never finds that more.
Just about every other scene in the film is a simple pleasure unto itself between the equally confident writing, direction and performances.
A brilliant political thriller about strategy, loyalty and idealism that is willing to unmask candidates who build their campaigns on slogans, not policies.
Well-produced and well-acted middlebrow entertainment, a political "expose" that will shock only pearl-clutchers and naive dopes.
A gripping, political thriller packed with tremendous performances and supremely confident direction by George Clooney.
George Clooney officially passes the impish matinee idol torch to Ryan Gosling in this smart, hella-cool (does Clooney waste his time on any other kind of movie these days?) political drama.
George Clooney's latest civics lesson as actor and director, is a down and dirty politics-behind-closed-doors tale...brilliantly acted
If the film had been able to get off the ground earlier, this probably would have been a great film. However, with its excellent performances, well-written screenplay, and engaging story, it's still a very good film.
The entire first two thirds of the film have the calm idiosyncratic qualities of a mellowed-out Mamet.
The Ides of March boils down to a big breast-beating session within the Democratic caucus
Modern-day Game of Thrones
While the eventual awful revelations might shock liberals who believe the absurdly sunny West Wing to be a documentary, anybody with a shard of cynicism in their heart will react with an unsurprised shrug.
Like Clooney's straightforward and unflashy directorial style, The Ides of March proves to be an effective drama.
"The Ides of March" is a solid film, but it could have been better if it challenged the audience more than it does.
A rehash of a recent political phenomenon dressed up to seem more daring than it actually is.
Ironically, one ends up feeling both skeptical and cynical about this movie that wants to have it both ways but, instead, ends up just as deeply cynical and flawed as its characters and the system it seeks to expose.
It's clear the Ides of March is about the nuts and bolts of politics.
... A political thriller that concerns itself more with issues of loyalty and trust than advancing a particular agenda.
It's politics. How many times do we say that in our work lives or in reference to an organization with which we are involved?
Yet another fantastic performance from Ryan Gosling, in what has turned out to be his breakout year that elevates him to the top rank of actors.
The twists and shocks of this story are delivered with emotional precision, each one landing like a heavy punch to the stomach, making every minute crackle with intensity.
I'd strongly urge you to hand over a $10 donation and support The Ides Of March. It has my endorsement!
Audience Reviews for The Ides of March
Super Reviewer
In "Ides of March" we get an adaptation of a stage play that comes alive with a brilliant script, wonderful, tight direction, and solid performances across the board from the likes of Evan Rachel Wood, Melisa Tomei, Phillip Seymore Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, and in particular Ryan Gosling. Of course we have to thank the co-writer of the screenplay, and the director - both embodied by George Clooney, who also steps from behind the lens and gives a terrific performance as the "perfect" candidate... I heard that Clooney was also the caterer for the project! (well, it only seems that way).
Amidst the standard plot involving a presidential race, we have Machiavellian mechinations and some snappy dialog wherein not a single character gives a straight answer to anything - holding truth (or their version of it) as power. As I previously stated, it's all in how you say it: take for example the fine scene where candidate Clooney is saying grand ideological things in front of a receptive audience, while backstage, seemingly smothered by a wall sized projection of the US flag, Hoffman and Gosling discuss the back room bargaining required to get their candidate elected. So much for idealism.
Late in the film the head of the Democratic party proclaims that he doesn't understand God's plan - of course he doesn't have the perspective of the true insiders who shape and twist fact and fiction to achieve their desired goal... from the campaign manager's point of view, God's plan is all too obvious and the morality... win at all costs as long as you believe in the cause. A nice sentiment and a convincing fairy tale to tell yourself as you sell your soul down the river.
The script also takes a nice side step in turning the vitriol onto the populace as well as on the politicians. At one point Gosling puts it all in perspective by drawling "You want to be president? You can start a war, you can lie, you can cheat, you can bankrupt the country... but you can't fuck the interns. They'll get you for that". Shades of Monica Lewinski......and it makes you wonder - how taking bribes can be condoned (see Lobbyist in the dictionary), and yet the populace takes the moral high ground when it comes to hanky panky... somehow, as usual, we miss the bigger picture.
Sure, the film doesn't tell us anything an astute person doesn't already know; however, as I earlier stated, it's not the story, but the telling. I'm not revealing hardly any plot points at all here, for I wish for you to experience this all for yourself and then reflect how seamlessly it all fits together into a concise, intelligent narrative.
Super Reviewer
Movies Like The Ides of March
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- Stephen Meyers: You wanna be a president? You can start a war, you can lie you can cheat, you can bankrupt the country, but you can't fuck the interns.
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- Stephen Meyers: When you make a mistake, you lose the right to play.
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- Tom Duffy: The ability to win people's respect, by making them mistake their fear, for love.
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- Stephen Meyers: You broke the only rule in politics. You want to be president? You can start a war, you can lie, you can cheat, you can bankrupt the country... but you cant fuck the interns. They'll get you for that.
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- Stephen Meyers: I'll do or say anything if i believe in it. But i have to believe in the cause.
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- Governor Mike Morris: The society must be better than the individual.
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Foreign Titles
- The Ides of March - Der Tag des Verrats (DE)
- Les Marches du Pouvoir (FR)
