The Ides of March

Last year's bestselling book, Game Change, gave us enlightening, provocative, fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2008 Presidential campaign. The Ides of March, which similarly focuses on a campaign team and the days before a heavily contested Ohio Presidential primary, has no such revelations. Unless, of course, you are shocked that Washington is a corrupt place.

Ides is not an important film.  Once you realize that, you can enjoy it as a political thriller.  The cast is fantastic to watch. Clooney, Hoffman and Giamatti hold your attention every second they are on screen. And your root for Gosling  even as his character darkens. Watching these four banter on screen (with a bag of popcorn in hand) makes up for the fairly predictable story.

Simply put: Actor's showcase

Award potential:  The actors will be rewarded more than the film.  Gosling (Oscar, Globes).  Clooney, Hoffman and Giamatti have potential nods in the supporting category but they've all had better material.

The Ten Buck Review:  Worth ten bucks.  (Twenty with popcorn and drink)