George Clooney is cast as Mike Morris, the democratic governor of Pennsylvania and presidential hopeful in the lead up to the Ohio Democratic primary from which the likely winner will clinch the Democratic Party's nomination for the presidential election. His media adviser is one Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) and the film is centred on Myers, his faith in Morris and his idealistic conviction that Morris has the same ideals and commitment to ethical standards in public life. Although Morris is the frontrunner to win this primary, due to adept manouvring and promises made by his Democratic opponent, there a good chance that he will lose the primary. Morris has a seasoned and experienced campaign manager, Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who brings a ruthless pragmatic approach to politics reminding Meyers at every point that this game is all about the numbers. Add to this focus, an intern sex scandal, a cover-up and a canny, manipulative campaign manager for the other Democratic candidate (Paul Giamatti) and the basis of the film is established.
Overall this is a disappointing effort given the quality of the cast,the high production values and very slick seamless linking of the stages of the film. The storyline is thin, lacking insight and one dimensional missing the many permutations, issues management crises and political negotiation weaving that characterises much of the process during a major vote-wining campaign. Despite some minor background details mentioned in the dialogue, there is little to distinguish and define the main characters in the plot. In many respects, this film compares unfavourably with the lower budget but more agile film 'Primary Colors' based on the book of the same title which has been often described as a accurate ghost writer insight into the Clinton presidential campaign.'The ides of March' misses an opportunity, skims trhe surface and delivers only a veneer of political intrigue.
