THE IDES OF MARCH

Excellent political true-life thriller starring George Clooney as Gov. Morris who is running for president and his strategist, Stephen, played by Ryan Gosling. The movie spans the time right before the very important democratic Ohio primary.

The film shows the preparation and workload of Morris's staff and also the deals and under the table swaps and trades that accompany politics and running for office. Morris is portrayed as an Obama (Obummer is my latest way of referring to the President) like charismatic speaker - a golden-tongued orator - whose campaign promises include a lot of  liberal-speak about the wars and the economy. Off the podium Morris is also shown as being unwilling to compromise his beliefs; his unwillingness to promise a job to Thompson (played by Jeffrey Wright) to get all his delegates which would seal Morris's win in the primary. Stephen is also proud to work for such a high-idealed man.

However, everything starts unravelling when Stephen agrees to meet with the "other side's" campaign manager; wonderfully and cynically acted by Paul Giamatti who wants Stephen to jump ship and work for the other candidate. I don't want to say anything more about what ensues because there are many twists and consequences and unintended decisions.

The acting in this movie is superb. Philip seymour Hoffman is a member of Morris's staff and is a grizzled veteran of these election 'wars', Evan Rachel Wood is an intern and the daughter of the head of the Democratic National Party and Marisa Tomei plays Ida, a reporter for the New York Times.

Both of us gave this movie a 10+.