From my movie review in Taki's Magazine:
Read the whole thing there.
George Clooney likes to make serious, important movies such as Up in the Air, Michael Clayton, and The American, in which he plays broken men beaten down by The System. Fortunately, it seems to have finally dawned on Clooney that he exudes too much Clooneyosity to be plausible as a small-time loser. Thus, in his fourth directorial effort, The Ides of March, he has cast himself—quite credibly—as the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Read the whole thing there.
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37 comments:
I was really about to go see this movie; it seemed to have a great cast, interesting concept, and it's been a while since Clooney's been in a reasonable non-Sinatra role. But all the ravingest reviews were from sources I distrust (Mother Jones, Arianna Huffington, etc.) and I don't know anybody in the real world who's seen it yet
It's kind of like Robert Redford's Lincoln assassination period piece from earlier this year, The Conspirator: classy but low energy.
Of the movies for grown-ups in the theatres, I'd recommend Moneyball by quite a bit over The Ides of March and Contagion, although the latter two aren't bad. But don't expect Moneyball to be all that great: it's a move about baseball statistics. It just comes with a very high degree of difficulty bonus.
Look at this:
Herman Cain: Obama Has "Never Been A Part Of The Black Experience"
UP IN AIR was not serious and important but a light-comedy drama(which faltered at the end when it tried to be more serious).
In UP, AMERICAN, and CLAYTON, Clooney didn't play small-time losers but alienated professionals(and also as good-looking male going through middle age crisis). He was convincing as such.
Clooney's main problem is his thin wafer-like voice, which makes it hard to take him too seriously, which is why he's right for alienated roles.
Brad Pitt doesn't look anything like Robert Redford. Redford is Ken doll. Pitt looks like a redneck Newman.
Mad Men
George Clooney likes to make serious, important movies such as Up in the Air, Michael Clayton, and The American, in which he plays broken men beaten down by The System.
LOL. He did the same middle-aged burnout schtick in Solaris and Syriana too. What is this guy thinking? What is he compensating for? Did he tell his agent, "Agent, I want to be the next Bill Murray?"
Best "grown up" movie is "Elite Squad II" which is running for the Oscars this year as best foreign film. But it's not for those with delicate stomachs.
Many actors seem to be enamored of politics. They think that politics is an intellectual profession, because compared to acting, it is.
By the way, actors shouldn't direct movies - they stink at it.
A few days back, I saw someone assert that mesomorphy is important in presidential candidates. Clooney definitely looks the part as do his counterparts in real life, Romney and Perry and Gore. Yet I'm almost certain most politicians aren't mesomorphs though many seem much taller than average. Or, as with actors, maybe they just need big heads.
Is there some kind of research out there delineating what physical characteristics will get someone elected because we all certainly talk as if this is a huge factor? To my own mind, however, prettiness, symmetry or perfection actually detract from credibility. Take me, for instance, a female, physical type closer to say Janeane Garafalo (before she got into the heroin), I think I could beat a real life Clooney type in an election.
Steve,
I think you need to keep endorsing the white candidates of the Republican Party. Sure fire way to get Herman Cain the nomination.
This is entertaining even if suspense barely builds and pay-off revelations come with little surprise. Clooney, as a director, is also able to draw-out amazing performances from this whole ensemble cast. Great review.
Someone I know and deeply respect described the film as George Clooney fellating himself for about an hour and 30 minutes, not counting the credits.
So no, no I will not be going to see this.
The Ides of March and Moneyball are good and all, but have you gentlemen seen The Jenna Three? I hear it's going to win Oscars with this crowd!
Clooney's rationale for eschewing public office (too many drugs and girls)is too funny. Hasn't he ever heard of Bill Clinton? The public might even embrace a candidate who is frank about such matters instead of the usual hypocrisy.
"Up in the Air" was serious and important?
So it did have a moral message, but so do plenty of unserious movies. "Up in the Air" was one of the best and funniest movies I've seen in years. Clooney and Kendrick were great; Farmiga was amazing. Another great Farmiga movie was "Dummy" with Milla Jovovich & Adrien Brody.
When Steve coupled Eliot Spitzer with intrigue, I googled "Spitzer conspiracy," and got a Huffpo piece which notes:
Spitzer's $1,200-an-hour Emperors Club VIP favorite ... insisted he shift sexual gears from wham-bam to drinks and small talk first.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but if I'm paying that kind of money, I give the orders. In a sane world, the Feds would regulate hooker attitude.
Marsh's album list
Marsh's singles list
"By the way, actors shouldn't direct movies - they stink at it."
Right: Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood, both lousy directors.
"'By the way, actors shouldn't direct movies - they stink at it.'
Right: Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood, both lousy directors."
Likewise Paul Newman, Vittorio De Sica, and Jean Renoir.
"'By the way, actors shouldn't direct movies - they stink at it.'
Ben Affleck's "The Town" was well-directed also--if he did in fact direct it. (Sometimes you wonder.)
Gibson and Eastwood don´t really count as actors. Or do they?
"Gibson and Eastwood don´t really count as actors. Or do they?"
Um, what?
Now Eastwood's films (as an actor) aren't really my thing. I don't think I've seen Gibson acting (but I liked The Passion). But I honestly have no idea what you're talking about.
"In real life, Clooney has ruled out politics: “Run for office? No. I’ve slept with too many women, I’ve done too many drugs, and I’ve been to too many parties.”
Did some of the drugs he's done induce a state of amnesia that made him miss the entirety of the Clinton administration?
Clooney wants to play politics than do politics. Former is fun, latter is work. I'll bet obama had more fun playing presidential material when running for president than actually being president.
"Right: Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood, both lousy directors."
Is that supposed to be sarcastic or earnest? Either way, I half-agree.
"To TRUTH:"
But the question is simple, Mac: Are those three gentlemen guilty of "attempted murder"?
"Fred said...
""By the way, actors shouldn't direct movies - they stink at it."
Right: Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood, both lousy directors."
Eastwood is occasionally passable - he might count as the exception to the rule. Gibson is a bad director. I admire his directorial point of view, which is often conservative - even reactionary - but I don't admire his directing abilities.
I should add that many directors stink at directing too. Peter Jackson most notably.
Affleck is a much better director than actor. Or at least the movies he directed are much better than the other crap he's appeared in.
I just saw Men Staring at Goats.
As in every other movie with him, Clooney can only play shades of himself - usually either clownish or sullen.
Clooney's a graduate of the pretty boy Robert Redford school of narrow range acting.
Harry, I can unequivocally state that Affleck directed "The Town". The bank robbery scene was shot the defunct Melrose Savings Bank a block up from The coffee shop I'm sitting in. He ran a pretty tight crew.
I meant to say neither Eastwood or Gibson can act. Heck, Eastwood barely moves a single facial muscle while reading his lines. As for Gibson, his only credible role was in Tim, playing a retard.
"Anonymous said...
To TRUTH:
The vast and overwhelming majority of inter-racial crime and violence is blacks against whites. (See The Color Of Crime). Nice try, though, with your man bites dog post."
There's no point in responding to "Truth". He will never respond in good faith. His only aim is to peddle excuses for any kind of black misbehavior. I'd suggest you just ignore him.
"There's no point in responding to "Truth". He will never respond in good faith. His only aim is to peddle excuses for any kind of black misbehavior. I'd suggest you just ignore him."
Oh come on Grasshopper, just as I'm starting to enjoy your posts...
Ben Affleck's "The Town" was well-directed also--if he did in fact direct it. (Sometimes you wonder.)
His first movie, Gone Baby Gone, was outstanding. His brother Casey is a better actor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pVcYfYhe4w
Wonderful time watching this. Not great but one of the truer-feeling movies about 'finding oneself'. One complaint: the resolution to the guerilla scene is too much of a SWPL fantasy. Otherwise, we need more movies like this.
Contact me at scottdude0506@aim.com for information on the matter.
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