Pointed political drama that’s still a missed opportunity.
Originally written nearly a decade ago, I remain in a quandary with this film as you’ll discover shortly. For fear of “burying the lead”, I find this a remarkable film yet a huge missed opportunity but then again, it is only a film and I remain firmly on the left of a ridiculous political spectrum that hasn’t existed in my lifetime and hence, I remain politically homeless.
Penned as a “Special” on George Clooney the actor as well as the director behind the cinematic lens, all five of Clooney’s early career from the directors chair can be found immediately below or the missed opportunity with The Ides of March a short skip further on.
George Clooney “Behind the Lens” Part 1
From 2002’s A Dangerous Mind to 2014’s The Monuments Men, here’s 3 more gems in the middle for your spoiler free…medium.com
“I am not a Christian. I’m not an Atheist. I’m not Jewish. I’m not a Muslim. My religion, and what I believe in is called the Constitution of the United States of America”
“Governor Mike Morris” (George Clooney) Although nominally a headline performance, this is another role whereby deliberately Clooney the Director melts into the background and allows his stellar cast to carry a magnificent film. A Democratic Governor running for President of the United States of America, this would seem a headline role but although prominent and indeed very good as Governor Mike Morris, it’s still very much a supporting role, and a supporting role eerily reminiscent of former USA President Barack Obama, both in mannerisms, style of speech, gestures and deliberations. The political platform on which Mike Morris runs, of national service, national unity, debt free college education, redistribution of wealth and of a society being bigger than the individual are all clear nods to the doctrine of former President Obama. As are the “Believe” Posters for Governor Morris.
This is George Clooney’s most serious film he has directed to date, his most serious role too, yet a role melted into the the background of his most stylish and accomplished directorial film to date too.
Based on the stage play “Farragut North” by Beau Willimon, Beau also contributed to the screenplay with regular writers George Clooney and Grant Heslov, all of whom were nominated at the 2012 Oscars in the Best Adapted Screenplay category, the film’s only Oscar nomination. The film was edited by regular collaborator Stephen Mirrione, with Louise Frogley also returning as Costume Designer and a new Cinematographer involved, with Phedon Papamichael on photography duty. Also worthy of immediate note is Alexandre Desplat’s original music score which hums melodically in the background but with a brooding air that befits the film. A film close to a number of hearts as is perfectly indicated by the number of Producers noted including both writers Clooney and Heslov, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The film open’s and, as is Clooney’s style, loops to a close in a similar vein with himself in the role of Governor Mike Morris on the campaign trail in Ohio and as is immediately stated as a real life truism “As goes Ohio, so goes the Nation”. This immediately roots us as the audience as being in the present, in a real life take on real life events, but not based on any past or present real life events. Art imitating life, but not based on real life events! As per the play it’s based on it roots itself very much in the present political climate and this is evidenced throughout with interviews with Charlie Rose and constant references to right wing bloggers, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, The Drudge Report, Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow and many others including more familiar Television coverage and snippets of public speeches and addresses. Running against Governor Morris is “Senator Pullman” (Michael Mantell) and the opening of the film depicts their race in Ohio, of busy interns chasing votes and nominations, saturation television coverage, voters on the streets for their candidates and also a stellar cast list who each produce superb performances.
Philip Seymour Hoffman excels as ever as a driven, dedicated, experienced and obsessive Campaign Manager “Paul Zara” who mentors a younger “Stephen Meyers” (Ryan Gosling) who is every bit as obsessive and driven as his Boss. Gosling is the film’s stand out star and another performance to add to his burgeoning cannon of brilliant performances in previous films such as Blue Valentine and Drive. Although Zara’s deputy, his obsessive eye for detail and to be forever ahead in the polls and working for the future President is evident and he is very much “the big man on Campus”. It’s a brooding performance of idealism that perfectly encapsulates the dirty world of politics and worthy of Oscar consideration. Paul Giamatti provides yet another star performance, this time as “Tom Duffy”, a similarly driven obsessive but who works as Campaign Manager for the “opposition” Democratic candidate, Senator Pullman.
Suffice to say these three male leads play out one of the film’s many themes, of political in fighting and self aggrandisement, and of treading on anyone who gets in their way, politically or otherwise, to succeed. To conclude the predominantly male lead roles, there are also excellent supporting roles from Max Minghella as Campaign Support Manager “Ben Harpen” and Jeffrey Wright in the pivotal role as “Senator Thompson”. In this predominantly male orientated (and testosterone filled) film, two particular female lead roles stand out with Rachel Evan Wood as a young, driven campaign intern “Molly Stearns” and an excellent performance from Marisa Tomei as New York Times Reporter “Ida Horowicz”.
A fantastic film worthy of more Oscar recognition and a firm favourite of mine, yet I still have major reservations. It feels like a “missed opportunity” for me in terms of shining a real light on American politics, on politics as a whole and of the two party system. That system in reality is just a one party system fighting for overall supremacy and feathering their own nest and giving the illusion of two opposing sides fighting for their electorate. The very fact we as an electorate accept a simple Blue versus Red, Republicans versus Democrats or here in the UK, Conservative versus Labour, political system is laughable. Two choices? Two heavily paid for, lobbied for choices? Really? In the 21st Century? Is that the best we can do?
Whilst the film definitely shines a light on this simple two sided battle for supremacy it doesn’t go anywhere near deeply enough into the charade masquerading as politics, of the lobbyists, control of resources, issuance of currency but most of all of the farcical nature of politics as a whole of one man (normally a man) controlling the decisions of a nation of 330 Million people? It’s a film of course and not a documentary but a film rooted in the prescient times we live and not reflective enough of that. The highlights are the veiled attacks of the touchy/feely aspects so often associated with the Democratic Party in the USA and especially the uglier and unseemly side of politics, the constant in fighting and media collusion that grows by the minute.
The other more minor reservation I have is the lack of depth to some of the great characters on display. All portrayed brilliantly by Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei but Giamatti’s Tom Duffy and Hoffman’s Zara characters could’ve been used far more heavily and far more effectively with more development and screen time.
Aside from these gripes it is another superb film helmed by Clooney, full of suspense and intrigue that grips you entirely within it’s 101 minute running time. His most stylish and serious film to date yet with many early trademarks of sublime, stylised scenes juxtaposed against the grittier narrative throughout, with constantly slow and smooth running camera angles that immerse you in the story.
Thanks for reading. Just for larks as always, and always a human reaction rather than spoilers galore. My three most recently published film articles are linked below or there’s well over 200 blog articles (with 400+ individual film reviews) within my archives from which to choose:
“Shame” (2011)
Heart breaking masterclass from Michael Fassbender.medium.com
“Being John Malkovich” (1999)
Spike Jonze incredible cinematic debut.medium.com
“The Road” (2009)
John Hillcoat’s end of the world Father and Son tale.medium.com