Why Ides of March?

Cafe Society
1

Saw (and enjoyed) The Ides of March over the weekend – a pretty solid political drama. Not as good as a great West Wing episode, but decent.

But I have a very basic question – does anyone have a theory as to why this particular title was chosen? It’s based on a play called “Farragut North”, and Clooney changed the title. I’m not seeing a lot of parallels with “Julius Caesar”, with the possible exception that

Steven (Ryan Gosling) turning on Paul (Philip Seymour Hoffman) could be compared to Brutus/Caesar.

2

Do you have any particular reason why you think the reason you gave in the spoiler doesn’t nail it directly on the head?

3

Seemed kind of a weak and tenuous connection. A stretch. Now, if Ryan Gosling had turned on Clooney…that would have been a stronger parallel.

4

I haven’t seen the move, but doesn’t it center around a presidential primary election? Is it not possible this election took place on March 15? The 2008 Democratic primary was on March 4 - not that far off.

5

Yes, it takes place during the Ohio presidential primary (which took place on 3/4/08 and will occur on 3/6/12), but no dates are ever mentioned in the movie.

6

A movie about political aspirants that focuses on a candidate’s confidant’s spiral into betrayal? That’s not a weak or tenuous connection. It’s a title, not a plot summary.