The story is a familiar one. Stephen Meyer (Ryan Gosling) is a campaign political consultant. He is the "heart and soul" advisor, the one who comes up with the real numbers and tells the truth. Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is the "brain" of the team. He is first in command; he has the political savvy to know how things really work. They advise Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney) who wants to be president. When the film begins, they are in the primary process in Ohio, and they are trying to figure out what is happening and what they need to do.
This is one of those movies where it is important to be surrpised by the twists and turns of events. Although the script could have easily been predictable, this was not one of those movies where everything is telegraphed miles ahead. I was genuinely surprised, and things made sense. The plot seemed built upon believable motivations and actions. It did not seem that you had to abandon disbelief when you watched this film; you could actually actively engage your brain and think about things without the story falling apart in your head.
The film felt like it was well researched. In his performance as the Governor, Clooney looked like he had studied a lot of tape of presidential candidates. He had the cadence of the stump speech, the gestures of a candidate. There were things that happened that were a twist on things that we have seen in primaries before that made this world seem more believable and also was fun to review from a historical perspective.
I read the IMdb trivia section on this movie and learned that Leonardo DiCaprio was originally cast as the primary consultant, Paul Zara. It was hard for me to imagine anyone other than Philip Seymour Hoffman in that role. I felt that Hoffman was so good at conveying the long, hard years of experience, the wisdom, and the cynicism of this character. He was able to convey both ruthlessness and vulnerability, and he could be both charismatc and seem like a secondary character on the screen. I feel that he is both a humble and an arrogant actor, and he knows when to play what part.
I also learned that Brad Pitt was to play Stephen Meyer. My first reaction was disappointment. I love to see Brad Pitt and George Clooney working together. But in watching the film, I felt that Gosling also owned this part. The thing that I admired the most about his performance was I felt that he was willing to follow his emotions. It is ultimately his character's movie, and i felt that he delivered on the film's inherent promise to show what happens to him.
I also admired the performances of Marisa Tomei as Ida Horowicz, the New York Times writer. She played a different type of role in this film and played it with gusto. Evan Rachel Woods at times reminded me of a movie star from a different era. She was charismatic and fast talking and seemed to own her world except when she didn't. She was a vital presence on the screen.
All in all, I really enjoyed this movie. It would be one that I could watch again, just to hear smart language and to see these actors work.
Comments