The Ides of March
(Starring Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti)
Some people want George Clooney to run for president. This tight, character-driven political thriller makes it clear why he probably never will. In his co-writing, producing, acting and directing, Clooney shows that he is a consummate artist, willing to take a back seat for the better good. That selflessness is not very much like an American politician at all is it?
Gosling portrays a wunderkind communications director, working with campaign manager Seymour Hoffman to get Senator Clooney the Democratic nomination for President. Rival campaign manager Giamatti wants Gosling for his team. Times reporter Tomei wants the inside scoop. Gosling wants to know that his candidate stands for what's right. The process always teaches that politics is all image, lies and compromise.
Ides is another chance for Gosling to shine with an understated, subtext-laden performance. Is he really as noble as he lets on? Is he corruptible, or is he already corrupted? In this film more than his other two this year (Crazy Stupid Love and Drive), Gosling is proving why it's only time before he wins an Oscar.
But he's not alone. The film's imagery calls to mind All the President's Men and Clooney's own Good Night and Good Luck. The other actors are superb. The plot twists are palpably amazing, driven by ego and human need.
All Clooney has to do is stand around and act charming”¦and lie”¦oh, and direct and co-write and produce this artfully shady film.
Real Steel
(Starring Hugh Jackman, Hope Davis, Dakota Goyo)
Some brilliant idiots tried to make a boxing movie for kids! They found a 1950s story by Stuart Matheson (I am Legend) and then destroyed it to make it safe for the youngsters. Real Steel is a futuristic Rock “Em Sock “Em Robots and a wispy story about a distant father and his whiny son. Or it's a nearly brainless, kiddie commercial that's over two hours long and may just sell a ton of boxing robot toys.
Jackman plays a washed-up ex-fighter who fights with his beat up robot to grift betting money from illegal matches. The problem is his machine is in such bad shape, he needs cash to continue. Years ago, he sold his son to his dead wife's sister. Now he agrees to babysit his estranged son (Goyo) for moolah, so the sis-in-law (Davis) and her beau can tour Europe.
Do you think there'll be reconciliation? Did I mention that Disney is one of the distributors?
Actually, the fights are fun”meaning that Real Steel at least shows up Michael Bay and his noisy, ridiculous Transformers. The film, however, also borrows from Rocky, The Champ, and other much better flicks, watering it all down for preteen consumption.
That's specifically where Real Steel makes me giggle. Do kids even need a boxing movie? What's next, a kid-friendly film about the Spanish Inquisition? Hey, I hear they're making Texas Chainsaw Massacre into a Saturday morning cartoon!
What's Your Number?
(Starring Anna Faris, Chris Evans)
Thank the gods Chris Evans is near naked for much of this dull romance. There is little other reason to watch. Hollywood keeps trying to find the right film for funny Anna Faris to shine in; this ain't it.
Only a few weeks before her sister's wedding, Faris gets fired and dumped, all in the same day. Then she finds a Cosmo quiz that tells her she is a slut bound for spinsterhood. Instead of worrying about her livelihood, she decides to go on an all-out quest to find her true love, convinced he's one of her ex-loves and definitely not the hunky, helpful, man-whore Evans next door.
What's Your Number? has one major flaw: an inconsistent lead character. Faris supposedly transforms for each man she's dating. If he's a vegan, she's a vegan. If he's British, she is, too. If he's a Goth magician, she buys an all-black wardrobe and dyes her hair. But outspoken, creative Faris doesn't seem to be wimpy or subservient enough. And she also doesn't seem to be stupid enough to believe the antiquated idea that she's a slut, damaged goods, beyond being marriageable.
Despite a few funny gags, nothing about the plot is clever or surprising. The basic premise is all-out sexist, and the film struggles too much to overcome its own biases. But I tell you; Hollywood super-hottie Chris Evans is naked and bare-chested a lot! So I couldn't quite give it one star.
