Actor and director George Clooney has come up trumps with his political drama, The Ides of March, that tells of hot shot press secretary Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) and his efforts to get Governor Mike Morris (Clooney) the presidential nomination.
Clooney, who also co-wrote the script delivers a tale of double-dealing backstabbing and political intrigue that never fails to entertain or enthuse. Chris Sullivan talks to Clooney and fellow cast members, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and the girl who sets the cat amongst the pigeons, Evan Rachel Wood, about the film.
George, you’ve been quoted as saying that the film could have been made thee years ago but there was so much hope in America due to the Obama election, so has anything changed now?
GC: The message of change has been brought down by the powers that be but it is all cyclical and it will change again. I feel quite optimistic about our country. It took a year for Obama to deal with the healthcare so things take time
There are no real heroes in the film, was that part of the attraction for all of you?
ERW: To be honest when George Clooney calls you and asks you to be in his movie you don’t say no! But I was attracted by the fact that there were no villains either as they were all the same. The lack of honesty and integrity amongst these people is what colours them and the dream begins to die.
PSH: I don’t think there are heroes anymore anywhere anyway. I enjoyed playing a part that could have been anybody. You don’t get to play parts like that usually.
GC: The funny thing playing a candidate is you’d think actors have an ego but when candidates have to sell themselves to the country it takes a hell of a big ego. Politicians are JUST performers.
How do you feel about the skeletons in their closets?
GC: We are reaching a point of realization that the politicians are just gonna have to stand up and say ‘yeah, I did it.’ And then just get on with it. We’re not going to find anyone who hasn’t smoked a joint or done something that someone considers inappropriate.
What motivates your use of politics in films, George?
GC: My great grandfather was a mayor, my father was a news anchorman for 40 years and was very politically involved and so I grew up with a social and political conscience. I was raised to participate and I will continue to do so, and even though it may make me very unpopular, I will keep doing this as a long as I can. I grew up in the 60s/70s when there was a tremendous amount of political activity – the Civil Rights Movement, Women’s movement and the anti Vietnam protests and a lot of films made then reflected that so I’d like to try and reflect what’s going on today on film.
When you read the play what made you think that it would make a great film?
GC: I liked the ideas that the questions in the play were raising. My father who ran for Congress told me that the truth is that you’ve got to shake a lot of hands you’d rather not shake to raise the money to build your campaign. And even if you want to run for a small congressional seat in somewhere like Kentucky you’ll still need a couple of million dollars' backing.
How closely do you think this film reflects the current political world?
GC: I know there are certain deals made and scandal is really not uncommon but the ailments of government are not just restricted to governing but also to power, ambition and hubris.
Do you think this is the closest you’ll ever come to running for office, George?
GC: No, I have a very good life and a comfortable existence and if I want to dip my toe in issues that involve politics, like Sudan, where I can actually have some involvement then I'm actually quite happy to do it. But I'm in a much nicer place where I am where I don’t have to compromise.
The Ides of March
The film depicts the political arena as particularly treacherous - how Machiavellian is Hollywood?
GC: Actors can be like that, but I think the businessmen more so. Actors recognise how privileged you are to be in a film. You understand it’s not just your brilliance that got you there and so you recognise that. So there’s a certain amount of generosity amongst actors that politicians don’t have.
What do you, Phillip and Evan think about directing (as actors) and what keeps you doing both?
PSH: Some people think actors direct because of their ego but it’s not altogether true. Directing complements acting and uses a different part of my brain and heart so it allows me to get away from being an actor.
GC: I did hundreds of hours of television before I did film so I've been acting for a very long time and, creatively, I need to keep trying new things and as a director you use all the elements, sound, music, camera, script. But if you fail it's much more upsetting than failing as an actor... but if you succeed it's amazing. I like the risk involved.
And you, Evan?
Maybe. I don’t know if I love storytelling. We'll see, there does need to be more female directors.
Do you think you’ve got a lot of skeletons in your closet, George?
GC: Yes. But actors aren’t expected to be saints really so it's not so bad.
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