"The Ides of March," currently showing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, is a welcome change from the summer fare of bare-chested shoot 'em ups. It's a serious film about American politics with a fine cast headed by Ryan Gosling as Stephen Myers, a sleazy press secretary to George Clooney's Mike Morris, seeking the Democratic nomination for president at a hotly contested Ohio vote.

Clooney is almost just a supporting actor but even in his shorter screen time manages to impress. He also directs, produces and co-writes the script, which is tight and intelligent.

Things are critical at the Ohio primary because whoever wins will undoubtedly be the candidate. Masterminding the Morris campaign is Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman, in another fine turn better than his recent stint of the Oakland A's manager).

Zara is the old pro, Myers a 30-year-old on his way to the top. And on the other side is Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti). There's also Ida Horowicz (Marisa Tomei), a N. Y. Times reporter out to tip over the Morris campaign. Also contribution is Evan Rachel Woods as Molly Sterns, an intern in the Morris campaign staff. She and Myers fall into bed easily but later she becomes a major problem as she turns out pregnant from an earlier romp with Morris.
Myers gets a phone call to meet with Duffy. They discuss the campaign and Duffy offers Myers a role in his staff. Myers turns him down, saying he can only work for someone he believes in.

Sterns tells Myers she is pregnant and of her affair with Morris and he arranges for her to have an abortion and to pay for it. That all goes bad and she commits suicide.

Things get complex with Myers losing his job but is turned down when he offers to help Duffy's candidate.

The movie ends on a questioning note with Myers having ousted Zara and in control but with a loss of his beliefs.

The cast is overall splendid, Clooney impressive in his limited time on camera and Gosling carrying a cloak of sleaze throughout. Direction is tight and the scrip is neatly literate.

Yes, this plays right into our current political scene, but since both parties are less than straight guys not blame is tossed at anyone other than politicians.

And it's a sign of respect for the audience that the title is there without the word "beware" as in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar."

Fine film, overall. Worth the price of your ticket. Incidentally, most of the film takes place in Cinncinnatti, Clooney's old home town. The Buckeye never looked better, even when Ohio State was winning.

Cast

• Ryan Gosling as Stephen Myers, the mastermind behind Morris' campaign[4]
• George Clooney as Mike Morris, Governor of Pennsylvania and a Democratic presidential candidate
• Paul Giamatti as Tom Duffy, a rival campaign manager[5]
• Marisa Tomei as Ida Horowicz, a reporter for the New York Times[5]
• Evan Rachel Wood as Molly Stearns, an intern for Morris' campaign[5]
• Philip Seymour Hoffman as Paul Zara, Morris' campaign manager and Meyers' superior and mentor[6]
• Max Minghella as Ben Harpen
• Jeffrey Wright as Senator Thompson

Directed by George Clooney
Produced by George Clooney, Grant Heslov,, Brian Oliver
Screenplay by George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon
Based on Farragut North by Beau Willimon
Music by Alexandre Desplat
Cinematography by Phedon Papamichael
Editing by Stephen Mirrione Studio Exclusive Media Group
Running time 101 minutes, rated R