To F or not to F the Intern? (:)(:)(:) for The Ides of March

3 surprisingly enthusiastic snouts up for The Ides of March directed by George Clooney and starring Ryan Gosling and George Clooney. I had reasonably low expectations of this movie having read several reviews and hearing how sort of predictable it was supposed to be. I’d said it before, go to a film with low expectations and you can only be pleasantly surprised. So, after you read this review, if you’re inclined to see the picture and want to replicate my experience first read some slams of it and then go. Having watched the movie, I can confidently assert that Clooney wanted to make this entire film only to have the near final scene in the hotel kitchen with Gosling. Given your strategy of reading the other reviews, I don’t think I’ll spoil anything by telling you that the central question is really can you or can you not get ahead if you break the fundamental rule of politics and fuck the intern? The answer, I think, is supposed to be no. But is that the lesson this movie really teaches? and is it the lesson that history teaches? Whatever your definition of “is” is, Bill Clinton did whatever he did with Monica Lewinsky, survived impeachment and went on to be re-elected. Yes, it was a massive distraction. Yes, it may be the main thing he’s known for in the history books, but the fact is, he did it and survived in politics. I yo-yo on whether Ryan Gosling can act. His performance in Blue Valentine was intriguing. His performance in Stupid Crazy Love was annoying. In this one, he’s credible and attractive. Surrounded by indie royalty {Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Marisa Tomei) the unknown actress who played Molly the intern, by the way, is a find–Evan Rachel Wood is believable as a sexy, smart yet hopelessly naive 20 year old. I’m sure Hollywood will want to see more of her.