The Ides of March

The Ides of March is the 2011 political drama about a presidential campaign staffer, who gets an eye-opening lesson about the art of Washington's dirty politics. The film was directed by George Clooney, and features an all-star cast including Clooney, Ryan Gosseling, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Paul Giamatti. Mike Morris (George Clooney) is the Democratic Governor from Pennsylvania, who is running in the Presidential primary against Arkansas Senator Ted Pullman (Michael Mantell). Morris had a brief affair with a young campaign worker, Mollie Stearns (Evan Rachel Wood), who is also the daughter of Democratic National Convention chairman Jack Stearns (Gregory Itzin). As a result of the affair, Molly is several weeks pregnant. Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosseling), who is Morris' junior campaign manager discovers Molly's secret after they enter into a romantic relationship. Stephen fires Molly from the campaign and funds her abortion on the condition that she remains silent on the father's identity.

Stephen's boss, Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffmann), who is also the Morris senior campaign manager leaks information to Washington reporter Ida Horowicz (Marissa Tomei), which could be potentially damaging to Stephen. Paul admits that he leaked the information to force Stephen to resign for being disloyal. Angered over his treatment, Stephen accepts a meeting with Pullman campaign manager Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti), who informs him that he really had no intention of offering him a position and his initial offer was only a ploy gain information. The betrayal by both campaigns, and Molly's suicide unleashes Stephen's full fury.

Stephen directly confronts Morris and threatens to expose his misdeeds unless he fires Zara and put him in charge of his campaign. Morris has no other choice but to relent. Stephen takes his place as senior campaign manager shortly after Morris loses Ohio. Before a CNN interview, he watches in disgust as Morris gives a speech about values.