The Ides of March
Dir: George Clooney
2011
****
As plot lines go, 2011's The Ides of March is pretty predictable and not particularly original,  it is the great performances from the impressive cast that makes the film entertaining. George Clooney has already proved himself a talented director and his credibility remains very much in tact. He actually steps to one side on the acting front with this film, unselfishly and quite sensibly concentrating on Ryan Gosling's character. Gosling had a good 2011, he can proudly add this to his CV, as can all the supporting cast who include Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright and Evan Rachel Wood . Overall, it's a simple yet entertaining political thriller, nothing over the top but you'd have to be pretty naive for it to be a political revelation but it's entertaining all the same. It does have what was one of the worst movie posters of the year though, it's a wonder people went to see it.