Rated R for pervasive language.
Starring Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman
Directed by George Clooney (Leatherheads and Good Night, and Good Luck)
This just might be the biggest surprise of the year.
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 up-end his candidate’s (George Clooney) shot at the presidency.
If you would have told me a week ago that I would have really enjoyed a political drama that George Clooney both directed and starred in…I would have laughed you out of the room. But The Ides of March was a great movie because it is a political thriller that concerns itself more with issues of loyalty and trust than advancing a particular agenda…that was a pleasant surprise.
Not only does Clooney keep his political views at bay, but he keeps himself mostly in the background until a crucial plot point emerges, yielding the spotlight to Gosling. Speaking of Gosling, this year he has solidified his leading man status with a comedy (Crazy, Stupid, Love), action movie (Drive) and, now, a thriller. Yeah, I’m sold.
The supporting cast is just as good. Hoffman and Giamatti, two of our very best character actors, steal just about every scene they are in.
I hate going to the movies and getting someone’s politics thrown at me for two hours, but The Ides of March is a political thriller with almost no politics. This movie is well made and well acted and if it weren’t for all the F-bombs, I would have easily given it a “Theater Worthy.” But because of the profanity, I’m giving it a “Rental.”
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT:
There is one sex scene where Stephen and Molly are shown in bed. And while there is no nudity shown, it’s still no mystery what is going on. There are also between 50 and 75 F-words.
Conversation Starter:
In this movie, both Stephen and Molly made a significant mistake in their lives.
- What was Stephen’s mistake and what were consequences he faced because of his mistake?
- What was Molly’s mistake and what were consequences she faced because of her mistake?
- In two different scenes Stephen called their mistakes “stupid,” what word would you use to describe the consequences?
- What was the first big mistake a.k.a. sin, in the Bible?
- What were the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin?
The good news is that when we ask for forgiveness the Bible tells us:
“As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12
- What “dumb mistakes” do you need to ask God to forgive you for?
