The Ides of March

The Ides of March is a thrilling movie that looks deeply into the nature of politics. In this movie, Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) is a successful campaign manager for presidential nominee Mike Morris (George Clooney). However, in the midst of Morris's campaign, Meyers discovers that Morris has cheated on his wife with one of his interns. After Meyers is fired for talking to the opposing presidential nominee's campaign manager in secret, he decides the one way to receive back his position is to threaten to reveal Morris's secret affair. After Meyers threatens the president, the film quickly takes on many twists and turns until it finally reveals a very suspenseful ending.

This movie displays how humans tend to let their greed and selfishness get the best of them as they strive for power and pleasure. This fact is evident when Stephen Meyers decides to threaten Morris to regain his status in Morris's presidential campaign. Although Meyers is rightfully fired, he still cannot take the dreadful news of his firing in stride. Because of his selfish desires, he eventually accidentally bring the intern to commit suicide and gets one of Morris's advisers fired from his beloved job. However, this is not the only example of how our human nature is corrupt. Morris also shows his true colors as he cheats on his supportive wife with one of his interns. Because of this act, Morris is eventually forced to be under Meyers' command throughout his campaign. These examples of a human's corrupt nature display how humans have been far from perfect ever since the Fall of Adam and Eve. It also portrays how humans struggle to live in a way that aligns with the Kingdom of God as they go throughout their daily lives. Although our purpose is to live in a way that is pleasing to God, this film, as well as our own lives, show that it is impossible to live that way on a daily basis.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some ways we can fight the selfish desires that are part of our human nature?

2. Do you believe that this film can help us correct our flaws as humans or does it just merely show us our flaws?

3. What do you think Meyers decides to do at the end of the movie (only applicable to those who watched this movie)?