THE IDES OF MARCH | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"THE IDES OF MARCH"
(2011) (Ryan Gosling, George Clooney) (R)

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: An idealistic strategist must contend with dirty politics and related shenanigans while trying to help his Democratic presidential candidate win a pivotal primary state.

PLOT:

Stephen Myers (RYAN GOSLING) is an idealistic strategist working for sitting Pennsylvania Governor Mike Morris (GEORGE CLOONEY) who's running for president. With the Democratic Ohio primary against Senator Pullman (MICHAEL MANTELL) coming up, Stephen and his fellow associates, including staffer Ben Harpen (MAX MINGHELLA) and intern Molly Stearns (EVAN RACHEL WOOD), do their best to execute the game plan of campaign manager Paul Zara (PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN).

But they have a formidable foe in Pullman's campaign manager, Tom Duffy (PAUL GIAMATTI), who's likewise after Senator Thompson (JEFFREY WRIGHT) and the hundreds of delegates he can deliver to whichever candidate will ensure him a cabinet position in exchange for his support. With opportunistic newspaper reporter Ida Horowicz (MARISA TOMEI) doing her best to get a scoop from either side, Stephen plays the standard campaign game with her, feeding her info in hopes of some positive coverage in exchange.

While he thinks he's as idealistic as he believes Morris to be, Stephen isn't above a little covert hanky-panky with Molly, whose father just so happens to be the head of the DNC. Yet those very ideals are challenged when Stephen realizes he's being played by various people with their own agendas. From that point forward, he has to figure out whether he must stoop to their levels in order to stay in the political game.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Unless they're into politics and/or are fans of someone in the cast, it doesn't seem too likely.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For pervasive language.

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