The Ides of March

The Ides of March: It’s this year’s Social Network—a smart backroom intrigue about diabolical ambition, dirty tricks and betrayed loyalty In his finest directing effort to date, George Clooney casts himself as a progressive governor campaigning in a Democratic presidential primary. But the movie belongs to Ryan Gosling, who plays his hotshot press secretary, a golden boy whose ideals hit the wall in a game of hardball involving sex, lies and interns. With Gosling in peak form, and Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman cast as sparring campaign managers, Ides is a slice of acting heaven.