Review: The Ides of March

Friends, Americans, Academy Voters: Lend George your Consideration

Director: George Clooney

Screenwriter: George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, based on the play “Farragut North”, by Beau Willimon

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Evan Rachel Wood, Philip Seymour Hoffman, George Clooney and Paul Giamatti

Plot: The Democratic Presidential Primary race is finely poised. Governor Mike Morris (Clooney) holds a delicate lead over his opponent, but it is fragile. Working on his campaign is the young media mind, Stephen Meyers (Gosling), who is idealistic and believes in this candidate. However, he is the focal point for a series of events which will change the shape of the campaign and expose him to dirty tricks, all of which start when he is approached by opposing campaign manager, Tom Duffy (Giamatti), who suggests he changes sides.

Running Time: 100m 46s

Certificate: 15 - Contains strong language

One thing you can be sure about with George Clooney is that he is almost certainly going to turn out interesting work. Whatever project he’s connected with, whether as a live actor, writer-director or even just a voice actor, will be worth talking about. Even his last directorial effort, the American-Football-based screwball comedy Leatherheads, had a charm about it and a rich visual feel which was diverting, despite it being a total flop critically and commercially.

Here, he returns to the sort of terrain he was on with his best film, Good Night, and Good Luck. The setting of The Ides of March is political, the atmosphere is serious and the style leans toward the film noir. However, whereas Good Night was about issues as much as it was about character, the story here is one of loyalty and betrayal which just happens to have a political backdrop.

Egremont: PMQs blog

Reel 6 works for the Tory Reform Group's Egremont blog, and here is a piece on today's PMQs, and other developments in the News International scandal:You can find the blog here

PMQs: What's this? Elements of an actual debate...

Following PMQs on twitter is always interesting. You get a myriad of coverage at a relentless pace with a broad range of opinions. But today, there was something like a consensus. No-one seemed willing to make a point for Cameron. It was Ed’s day. At long, long last, that is. However, having watched the exchanges, a few things can be said.

Let he who is without Murdoch cast the first stone

This lunchtime, David Cameron will go to the Commons to face PMQs not just with the Phone Hacking storm raging outside, but with questions about Andy Coulson landing right at his feet. With Coulson now directly implicated in a “cash-for-stories” deal with the police, questions will again be asked about Cameron’s judgement (and, surely, one must also ask vital questions of the police).