The Ides of March: Yet Another Ryan Gosling Hit

If this movie taught me anything, it’s this: Never get involved with politics.  The Ides of March, directed by George Clooney, is a political thriller about the under workings of the presidential campaigns to win the state of Ohio for the democratic primary.  The Ides of March features a top notch cast, featuring Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, and Evan Rachel Wood.
As previously mentioned, one of the best parts of The Ides of March is the cast.  Ryan Gosling is the best out of the group, as the young rising star of the campaign, who is just learning to play dirty in politics.  Goslings character evolution as the movie goes on is enough to make a film of its own.  Gosling had a great year in movies, being the funniest one in Crazy Stupid Love, great in The Ides of March, and fantastic in Drive.  Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti are equally good, as the campaign managers of the two candidates.  While he delivered in the scenes he was in, George Clooney wasn’t in front of the camera as much as I had expected.
The film does not focus much on the actual presidential race, it’s more about what goes on underneath it.  You hear little about what it going on with Clooney’s rival in the race.  The aspects involving the feuds between the campaigns are more interesting than the battles between the two candidates.  
While it is intriguing, The Ides of March is not as gripping as it could have been.  In some situations I was left wanting a little more.  The movie just felt a little quiet.  I would not say I was disappointed, just a little bit underwhelmed.  The movie is fine throughout, but really picks up closer to the end, so you have to be patient.  However, when it is thrilling, it does a good job with it.  The movie throws some very surprising twists that I did not see coming.
The Ides of March is not about winning the race.  It is about beating the other guy.  Putting the other guy under, so you can walk over him.    It may not be as enthralling as it could have been, but the Ides of March is still a nicely done political drama, thanks to a great cast, nice twists, and an interesting premise.