The Moviegoer: The Ides of March (Clooney, 2011)

Last updated on: October 20, 2011 at 9:00 am by Nick Olson

The Moviegoer: The Ides of March (Clooney, 2011) 2011-10-20T09:00:03-06:00 Nick Olson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Early in the superbly-acted political thriller, The Ides of March, Governor and Presidential hopeful Mike Morris (George Clooney) remarks in a debate that he is neither a practicing religious person nor an atheist; rather, he “believes in the Constitution.” The political platitude perpetuates the popular notion that it is only the government’s job to protect people’s freedoms. On the surface, the sentiment that only job-functional responsibilities matter is attractive in the sense of avoiding a theocracy or big government, but we’re soon left to ask ourselves whether faith in the Constitution is enough to make our lawmakers moral people, and, if not, whether a discontinuity between the public persona and the private person matters. Can a person be perfectly lawful, but still untrustworthy? If so, what transcends constitutional law in terms of accountability?

Idealistic campaign aide Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) believes in Governor Morris. He’s the one that’s going to bring the changes that will make America a better place. Morris appears to have it all: the ideological platform, the endearing diplomatic tools, JFK good looks, and the rhetorician’s witty resolve. Perhaps most attractive to Stephen is that his boss seems determined to rise above the typical political compromises that are made in order to win a campaign. Governor Morris, on the whole, seems true…complete.

The film centers on an upcoming Ohio primary. If Morris wins Ohio’s delegates, he is almost assured of winning the democratic nomination—and the presidency. But with the stakes high, the moral fortitude of Morris’s campaign is put to its toughest test when the other campaign competing for the democratic nomination is willing to use dirty tactics. With so much idealistic weight placed on getting Morris into office, no moral imperative trumps taking any means necessary to win the campaign—particularly with the supposed betterment of the people hanging in the balance.

Unlike his campaign-managing colleague Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and political nemesis Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti), Stephen seems to have a purity about him; he’s been untainted by the political process. Far from jaded, he believes nothing bad can happen when a person is pursuing what is good. Yet, Stephen’s naiveté is short-lived because he quickly learns that he cannot trust political opponents, allies, or reporters. What unfolds is a mess of lasciviousness, secrecy, backstabbing, adultery, blackmail, hypocrisy, extortion, and a death that is anything but accidental. Governor Morris plays a prominent role in nearly all of the behind-the-scenes chaos. When Stephen’s picture of the Governor as the embodiment of America’s cure is proven delusional, he is forced to play the game.

The Ides of March is a dark moral fable that may be unoriginal, but involves themes that are timeless, and in this film, they’re far from boring. Unconcerned with how we wish the political sphere functioned, The Ides of March looks unflinchingly at the way things are—at the rampant corruption that often accompanies the pursuit of political power.

Ultimately, though, the film’s Face/Off style movie poster embodies the most interesting theme. The end of the film has the triumphant-but-scandalized Stephen campaign-managing for Morris. A sickening realization appears to wash over him as he overhears a clip of Morris exclaiming “integrity matters” to a crowd of unsuspecting supporters. Now part of Morris’s hypocrisy, Stephen’s public projection of himself and the Governor is incongruent with their private behavior. It is not just that the ends don’t justify the means, but also that the person one wishes to be cannot cover up the person one is without the collateral damage of identity crisis. We all know that personal integrity involves a wholeness—or completeness—of moral character and personhood. Indeed, “integrity matters.” But the question remains: whose integrity? which authenticity?

Asides

Film

the moviegoer

Previous Post

October 20, 2011

Mixed Signals: Seeking Some Quiet in the Media Storm

Next Post

October 21, 2011 Elsewhere: Balking Dawkins, the "Age" of Instagram, Grand Grantland, and the Music of 1991

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz