There's nothing that I enjoy more than an adult political thriller with its smarts, scandal and cynicism front and center. Therefore, I was over-the-moon in anticipation for George Clooney's "The Ides of March." Director Clooney has assembled one of the year's most impressive casts including Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, and Clooney himself. It's a dream team and every performance is exemplary. And yet, despite the heavy hitters at the top of their game, the actual story behind "The Ides of March" is pretty familiar and, frankly, a tad underwhelming. I certainly wanted to and expected to like this movie, even love it, but it simply offers little new to the well-worn genre of political drama. Adapted from the 2008 play "Farragut North" by Beau Willimon, the narrative revolves around a Democratic primary with the standard amount of political hubris and idealistic disillusionment. It's really a very tight story highlighting the arc of Gosling's character and while the limited scope might have made for a focused play, it seems all so less-than-shocking (even typical or expected) on the big screen.

Gosling plays a principled staffer working for Governor Mike Morris (Clooney) as he fights to attain his party's nomination in the Democratic primary. Taking place almost exclusively on the campaign trail, we see that Gosling's idealism, savvy, and energetic commitment have made him invaluable to the presidential candidate. He works alongside Hoffman (in another characteristically great performance), spars with Giamatti from the rival candidate's camp, flirts with Wood as a beautiful young intern, is cagey with Tomei as an ambitious reporter, and trades nuggets of wisdom with the great man Clooney. Over the course of the primary, however, Gosling will come to confront the truth inherent in our political system and in humanity. If you place someone on a pedestal, they are surely in for a fall. But Gosling must grow up quick, open his eyes, and determine if he will be defeated by his disillusionment or become complicit in the complexities of the political machine.

In a year in which Ryan Gosling could do no wrong from romantic comedy (Crazy, Stupid, Love) to art house actioner (Drive) to this high profile endeavor--it's hard not to commend his versatility. Here, it is easy to see the brash young brilliance of his character, but that just makes his naivete all the more startling. The "shocking" turning point of the film is hardly shocking at all if one watches the news with any regularity, and yet it seems to completely undermine this insanely intelligent and politically astute character. And just as things ramp up for a turn-around, the film ends without a huge degree of payoff. I just feel that we've covered this corruption of innocence angle so many times, nothing felt particularly surprising or revelatory about "The Ides of March." I would still recommend the film, especially for the performances, but it lacks the groundbreaking allure that would define it as a classic. Clooney is terrific and full of easy charm as the candidate, Giamatti gets all the best lines (that must be in all of his contracts), and Hoffman is easily our most steadfast and reliable character actor. I just wish they, along with the great Gosling, had more to say that hadn't been said countless times before. About 3 1/2 stars. KGHarris, 12/11.

Despite the exalted cast in this movie, don't be fooled. it is Ryan Gosling's movie, just like it has been his year in acting in general. This is both the movie's strength and its weakness. In order to give him a dilemma, the screenplay picks a rather hackneyed problem which detracts from all this stellar acting.

George Clooney directed it and he has no problem playing the charming, good looking Democratic governor, who is very reminiscent of JFK. This is all too true of his eye for the ladies as well, which leads into the dilemma at the heart of the movie. Ryan Gosling works for the candidate. He has a fleeting relationship with a young woman, whom it turns out has had an even more fleeting relationship with the Governor.

While he's involved with the young woman, he also gets caught in the cross fire between two more seasoned political veterans played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giametti. Both of them play fairly detestable characters. In fact, the Gosling character is the only one who isn't entrenched in the deep mud of the political world. This movie is his education about what he's let himself in for by choosing politics as his arena. And it's either get down in the mud and play with these old hands or leave.

Most of the action takes place in Cincinnati Ohio because the Governor is running in the important Ohio primary for President. Everyone does a good job but if this was indeed the plot of the stage play, then I would have liked to seen it made less trite for the screenplay. There is nothing in here plot wise that you haven't been watching for decades.

"The Ides of March" focuses on the dirty game of politics, how we compromise our ideals and, yep, drink the kool-aid when it comes to believing in the political figure we vote for/work for/admire.

George Clooney's film focuses on a brilliant junior campaign manager Stephen Meyers(Ryan Gosling) who discovers that the candidate he believes in for the democratic nomination governor Mike Morris (Clooney in a nice subtle performance)and the campaign manager Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman)mentoring him are playing the game of dirty politics even within the faithful themselves. Zara wants to win at all costs while Morris claims he doesn't want to compromise his ideals when it comes down to the wire he's more than willing to do so to gain the electoral votes from a senator (Jeffrey Wright) that he despises.

The Blu-ray looks marvelous with a top notch transfer. Blacks are deep and rich. Colors don't exactly pop but they are not supposed to as the film has a somewhat subdued palate. Skin tones are nice throughout.

Audio isn't all that active but the film has a nice 5.1 mix with dialogue clear. Subtitles in English are provided.

The cast is top notch with great casting including Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti as the opposing campaign manager, Max Mingella and Rachel Evan Wood as Meyers' love interest. Clooney does a great job of balancing his role as director and co-star in the film avoiding the temptation to make the film about him an dhis performance.

Although well made "The Ideas of March" works best in the first half of the film as Meyers tries to reconcile his idealistic belief in HIS candidate and Paul with what he finds out truly motivates both of them to achieve their goals. Politics aside, "The Ides of March" could have been made about a Republican, Independent or Tea Party candidate and still resonate. The film could just as easily have been made for HBO as a theatrical release.

The special features for the film are good but limited. We get an insightful commentary track from director Clooney and co-writer/producer Grant Heslov.

"Developing the Campaign is a standard "making of" featurette that doesn't really provide much insight. "On the Campaign: The Cast of The Ides of March" is a bit too much on the fawning side with the cast discussing working Clooney as co-writer/director and cast mate.

"What Does A Political Consultant Do?" has a great title but doesn't give us much insight into what their job truly is and we don't get much insight into the behavior in the film and how it reflects on reality. Stuart Stevens the consultant that Clooney worked with on a previous project does give us a general idea as to what he does.