FILM

USA 2011  101 mins Dir: George Clooney Starring: George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei

Politicians and their campaign teams are duplicitous, scheming, back-stabbing bastards, entirely bereft of morals or conscience, and anyone who enters their orbit with the slightest of hint of idealism is either chewed up and spat out or winds up as cynical and manipulative as the most vile practitioners of this darkest of arts. Who'd have thunk it, huh? It's safe to say that George Clooney isn't exactly breaking new ground with this venture into 'The Best Man'/'Primary Colors' territory. But after the misfire of 'Leatherheads', 'The Ides of March' sees him back on form as director with a prime example of what swivel-eyed right-wing American bloggers would describe, with lips so curled as to cause permanent disfigurement, as a "Hollywood liberal movie", reeking of the disillusion that swiftly sets in after the election of any Democrat president.

It's all perfectly cast, with Clooney himself playing the handsome, soundbitey, Clintonesquely flawed governor of Pennsylvania, who's engaged in a closely fought Ohio Primary. Philip Seymour Hoffman is his loyal, hard-nosed campaign manager, while Paul Giamatti is on excellent weaselly form as Hoffman's opposite number in the rival camp. But the real star here is Ryan Gosling (he can do action, he can do indie relationship misery, he can do serious drama…is there anything he can't do?) as Clooney's young, ambitious, talented press agent, who becomes a pawn in a bigger political game.

An interest in US politics helps but is not essential, and those craving thrill-packed rollercoaster rides should seek their jollies elsewhere. Anyone else with an exceedingly low opinion of the way in which 'democratic' politics is conducted should find plenty to savour in this sour (im)morality tale. (Robin Askew)

Website http://idesofmarch-movie.com

Opens 28 October

Copyright Robin Askew 2011