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"The Ides" has it

George Clooney can do no wrong. With looks that only get better as he ages, charisma oozing from every pore and enough humility to not make you hate him off-screen, he's got a good thing going. With his star somehow continuing to rise, it's not a shock that his latest, "The Ides of March", is another excellent show of Clooneyism. This time, though, it's not Clooney the actor that really shines. It's Clooney the screenwriter and Clooney the director.

Governor Mike Morris (Mr. Clooney) wants to run for President. It's Primary time and, as one of the two front-runners on the Democratic ticket, he's out to take swing state Ohio. Luckily, he's got two of the best minds in the business working political strategy for him: seasoned veteran Paul (another standout performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman), and Stephen (Ryan Gosling): bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and brilliant, trailing stardust in the wake of his meteoric rise. The way things are going, it's nearly a sure thing: both the election and the promise of Stephen's success.

That is, of course, until Paul Giamatti's Tom (leading the opposition's race) makes a move on Stephen, appealing to his vanity and beckoning him to the dark side. Is he strong enough to resist? Well, he sure does try. Is he experienced enough to successfully navigate the subtleties of his own career? Not quite. Throw in Molly (Evan Rachel Wood), the lovely intern ingénue, and Stephen quickly finds himself in a tricky spot. Things get interesting when the political maneuvering moves behind the scenes, blindsiding our somewhat naive hero as he's attacked from all sides and forced to choose between his integrity and his career.

One of the most compelling things about this intense political drama is that everyone plays by the same rules. Only Stephen, whose wide-eyed idealism is the driving force behind his charm as much as it is his fatal flaw, is taken by surprise when things turn sour. In a film so focused on one character, Mr. Gosling delivers, bringing an earnest sincerity to his role that's as believable as it is pitiable. Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Giamatti's characters effortlessly play off each other - showcasing both men's talent (no big stretch, there). Along with Marisa Tomei's reporter, both Mr. Clooney and Ms. Wood's characters are more plot devices than anything else - they set the scene, but leave the meat of the story for the others.

While Mr. Clooney (along with Mr. Gosling) headlines the movie posters, his behind-the-scenes role in this film is much more important than his screentime. The direction is fantastic and the pace is just right - no small feat in a movie where most of the action is in the dialogue. Along with Beau Willimon (on whose play this is based) and Grant Heslov, he also co-wrote the screenplay... again, impressive in a movie where most of the action is in the dialogue. Regardless of whether or not you're interested in politics, this is definitely one to see. Come awards time, you'll thank me.