Politics on a personal level

By Rick Bentley

McClatchy Newspapers

George Clooney — star, co-writer, director uses politics as a backdrop between the emotional and personal foibles in “The Ides of March.” The battle between two Democrats for Ohio’s electoral votes is just the scenery for this tale of ambition, loyalty, sex, betrayal and abuse of power.

In other words, it’s a lot like real-world politics.

Ryan Gosling plays a whiz-kid consultant who believes a charismatic governor (Clooney) has the right stuff to be the next president. His beliefs are shattered by events that begin to unravel on the campaign trail.

Clooney looks like he could be both a perfect and imperfect candidate for the White House. That duality creates questions that run through the film and bolster the tension.

The supporting cast is loaded with top-notch actors: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti and Evan Rachel Wood. Marisa Tomei turns in one of her better efforts playing a dogged journalist, but the part is too small to create any memorable moments.

When “The Ides of March” stays the political and personal course, it gets my vote. There are only a few moments that will leave you undecided.

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