The Ides of March

Mr Clooney is a wonder. He was made for the role as the ambitious democratic Governor Mike Morris, with his almost communistic style posters and his charisma oozing over the offices. His right hand men are Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and superstar Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling). There is an intern too, Molly Stearns (Evan Rachel Wood, shaping up to be a real acting contender). Molly is bold and vivacious and her and Meyers embark on a little affair, lucky Molly. Meyers is wooed by Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti) who works for the other democratic candidate and it's then that things start to get ugly. Meyers is party to a tragedy, and his loyalty to Morris and the team are tested. I don't pretend to understand American politics that much, but I sure do enjoy trying to work it all out. It's an age old tale of love, honour and loyalty. Back stabbing and clawing your way to the top.
The actors are truly terrific. Gosling's character has been accused of being naive for one so smart, but I disagree. Wisdom comes with age, or it's supposed to and Ryan portrays Stephen with a ruthless charisma that could charm the knickers off just about anyone. What to say about the incomparable Seymour Hoffman? Does he ever put a foot wrong? Loyal, vulnerable, shambolic, and yes, I'm going to say it, sexy as hell. Keep Mr Clooney, I'll have Philip please. I've always loved him. Don't ask me why for I do not know. Paul Giamatti (no, I don't fancy him) is as always excellent and George Clooney is immaculate. If I have a critisicm it is that whilst enjoyable, once you leave the cinema, the movie is forgotten. There seems to be little substance to the story. Some of the boxes are a little too neatly ticked and the characters of Meyers and Stearns do very seem to have sharp changes in personality. It's a little too dramatic and a little too unbelievable. George Clooney directs as well, wonderfully. I read that Leonardo DiCaprio was initially going to play Gosling's character, but pulled out. It would have been a disappointing film for him to have been in, but he stayed on as producer, got to love that loyalty. The Ides of March: Et tu Gosling? 6.5/10

Crazy, stupid, love.

Went to see this movie with my darling sister, and went again when I got back home. And again. It's the story of Cal (Steve Carell) and his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), who were high school sweethearts. Emily reveals at the beginning of the movie that she slept with a man at work, David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon). Cal is devastated and moves out. So begins his journey of reinvention with the help of 'the hot guy from the bar' Jacob (Ryan Gosling, oh my) with the hope of a reconciliation with Emily. Interwoven into the main plot is the story of Jacob a serial womaniser who is confronted and confused by love, Cal's son who is in love with the babysitter and the babysitter who is in love with Cal. It's about love in all its different forms. A bit like 'Love Actually' but far less contrived, far funnier, and far far sexier. Where to begin? Well, it's a rom-com in the best sense of the word. It's very romantic, and it's very funny. There are some truly stand out scenes. When Jacob takes Hannah home to his house, it's a heartwarming and funny conversation, one of the most romantic, sweet scenes I've seen in a long time, and oh Mr Gosling, those abs are obscene! He's flavour of the month for a very good reason. Intelligent and charming, not conventionally good looking, Jacob could have been an arrogant and dislikable character. Not in Mr Goslings very capable (I imagine) hands. Emma Stone plays Hannah, again, no wonder she's the darling of Hollywood, a real gem, likeable and funny, you love Hannah from the start. There is also the part where Emily phones Cal for help with the boiler. It's so charmingly acted, so true and simple yet the message is clear. Julianne Moore is stellar as always, beautiful and slightly haunted, we should hate her, but we don't. The kids are brilliant, as are all the supporting cast. Steve Carrell is just heartbreaking. He has the magical qualities of pathos and humour. You can't help but like him, even when he's really quite pathetic. This is a really beautiful, fun film. It will become a classic. There are some daft scenes but they work, and the ending even surprised and charmed this jaded veteran movie goer. I hate to admit it, but I am a romantic at heart, and this movie is just so damn romantic, and sad and funny. Just like life, except there's no Ryan Gosling.... Crazy, Stupid, Love: A bit crazy, not stupid, I love...9/10

Blue Valentine

Boy meets girl, they fall in love, a fairy tale ending, that's the Hollywood way. Not this time baby. It's the story of Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams), and begins in the present day. Dean and Cindy are a married couple with a young daughter. They've lost their dog and it's evident from the beginning that the marriage is in trouble. Dean instigates a night away from them, in a sleazy motel, booking 'The Future Room'. I love these motels, I've only ever seen them in the movies, but they're a hoot. Cindy reluctantly agrees. It is here that the marriage irrevicably breaks down. In between the scenes set in the present, the film is interspersed with flashbacks to the past, and how this dysfunctional couple came to be. Both of these two have come from broken homes. Dean failed to finish high school and drifts between any job where he can spend time with his family and start drinking at eight in the morning. Cindy was raised in a broken home where the parents didn't separate. Her father was aggressive and hostile, and their relationship isn't that much better now. Cindy had a difficult romance before Dean, but she did well in school and was studying to be a doctor, although it's not clear I don't think she did become a Dr, I think she only made it to nurse (I'm allowed to say that, being a nurse myself!) This is a very painful real film to watch. There is no blame assigned to either person particularly. They are both portrayed as fragile humans, with good and bad characteristics to bring to the marriage. It is quite heartbreaking that in the middle of this despair, it cuts to how wonderful it was when they first met, so full of hope as it always is. I loved the scene where he's playing the ukelele and singing a hauntingly appropriate song in the shop front and she's dancing. There are some really lovely attentions to detail. His absolute kindness to the old man he's helping to move into an old people's home. Her extremely dark choice of joke when they meet on the bus. The scenes where Dean tries to instigate love making are particularly hard to watch. Ryan Gosling is a gifted actor, who makes the character of Dean sympathetic and likeable whilst still making you want to shake this man-child. Michelle Williams is good. The only trouble I have is that she appears to be quite vacuous and her aspiring to be a doctor just didn't ring true. She doesn't portray intellingence well, put it like that. She reminds me of Scarlet Johannsson in this way, although at least she doesn't try and constantly look sexy for the camera. It's a sad and beautiful film, reminding us just how fragile love is. Most people who have ever been in a long term relationship that has ended will connect with this film to a larger or lesser extent. There will also be a very lucky few who will not be able to relate to it at all. But only a very few. BLUE VALENTINE: No amount of chocolates or flowers will bring this union back. 7/10