The Ides of March

With my recent Golden Globe experience, I've been trying to keep up with this years contenders for the Academy Awards, as well as those for years past. The Ides of March is one such contender, mainly for best picture, best director, and best supporting actor (Ryan Gosling).
Side note - I was just looking for pictures for this posting and was distracted by a blog about The Ides of March and WOW, I really suck as a film writer. But that's why this blog is just for me. And that's why I have no future in the world of film, besides my own ramblings, premature thoughts and living room screenings.

Anyway, this film was surprising. It is, in essence, a "talkie." There's very little action and very much talking. And, it's kind of dense in the beginning, but somehow you muddle through and it really begins.

George Clooney does a fantastic job playing a slimy character, and yet he's STILL charming. He's slimy, but charming. Ryan Gosling's character is the opposite. You want him to succeed, but only in the beginning - and then all of the tables turn and you don't know who you're rooting for - Philip Seymour Hoffman maybe?


Joke. It's certainly not Evan Rachel Wood (the love interest). Maybe I couldn't get past her hair and makeup but I just feel like they could have done better, especially opposite Ryan Gosling.

Once you're in the film, you're in it. It was well done, has a different ending than you're used to (back to the New Wave where nothing ends happy, or even content) and it was refreshing. The cinematography was well done - it draws you in more than anything else and it is just beautiful at some points.
And it was written and directed by George Clooney - he is really blossoming in the film world as an artistic contributor.