"The Ides of March"

“The Ides of March”

Directed by: George Clooney

Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright, Evan Rachel Wood, Max Minghella, Jennifer Ehle, Michael Mantell, Gregory Itzin

Rated: R

One of the most infamous assassinations in history took place on March 15 (The Ides of March) in 44 BC.

Julius Caesar was stabbed 33 times by a group of Roman senators, including Caesar's friend, Marcus Junius Brutus. The event inspired a play by Shakespeare which spawned a number of familiar quotes, such as, “Et tu Brute?” (“You, too Brutus?”), “Beware The Ides of March” and of course Mark Antony's speech that begins, “Friends, Romans countrymen, lend me your ears...”

The The Ides of March is still used as a metaphor for when a friend “stabs you in the back.”

George Clooney directs and stars in “The Ides of March.” It's not a retelling of the historical events but rather a tale of modern American politics and the lengths to which politicians and their handlers will go to be elected.

While no blood is shed, there is plenty of backstabbing in the modern sense. And there is a death scene.

Clooney plays Mike Morris, the sitting governor of Pennsylvania who has decided to run for president.

In the Ohio Democratic primary he's facing Senator Pullman (Michael Mantell).

Morris is a good looking charmer; all smiles and concern for the common folk. But we find out very early on that he long ago lost the ideals he held in his early career and has been corrupted by politics. He'll say whatever it takes to get elected. Yes, power corrupts.

On his team are press secretary Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) and campaign manager Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman). On the Pullman team are senior strategist Tom Duffy (Paul Giamati) and sexy young intern Molly Stearns (Evan Rachel Wood). They are both -in very different ways- trying to get Stephen to come over to the Pullman side.

But Stephen is sticking with his candidate because he honestly thinks Morris believes in what he says he believes in. Stephen is a bit naïve and seems to be the only one on the campaign trail (as well as the audience) who doesn't know Morris is such a slick weasel. As much so as many of the politicians we know in the real world. But Stephen begins to see things more clearly as the movie progresses.

In a subplot, Marisa Tomei plays Ida Horowicz. She has a sweet smile and demeanor but those traits belie her doggedness. She's in love with getting a story and she'll be your friend if you give her what she wants. She's determined to get the story she knows is lurking behind the scenes in the Morris campaign.

As in real life politics, secrets abound. Everyone in “The Ides of March” seems to have a few. One is very dark but won't be revealed here.

Another small but pivotal plot point concerns North Carolina's Senator Thompson (Jeffrey Wright). A seasoned incumbent -and power broker in the Democratic party- Thompson meets with members of both candidates' teams -separately, of course- and informs them he will deliver his convention delegates if, in turn, he gets the Secretary of State position. He has enough delegates and it's such a close race that whichever candidate gets them will be the next President of the United States.

Much ado about a lot of things result.

A lot of movies say they have an “all-star” cast and this one actually does. Everyone in the ensemble is terrific.

There's enough backstabbing in “The Ides of March” to warrant the title. There are moments of humor but at heart it's a taut political drama.

It's Clooney's fourth time as a director and is his best work as such.