Starring Ryan Gosling, George Clooney & Philip Seymour Hoffman Directed by George Clooney

As up-and-coming press secretary, Stephen Myers (Gosling) battles tirelessly for Governor Mike Morris (Clooney) in a frantic election race he becomes distracted by sexy young intern Molly (Evan Rachel Wood). Whilst concealing their affair he agrees to meet the opposition’s campaign manager (Paul Giamatti), who offers him a job on his staff. Stephen neglects to inform his boss of the meeting and as his silence is revealed he discovers a dirty personal secret that could sink Morris’ political career. Stephen must then decide whether to enact revenge or use it to his advantage.

As his fourth time in the director’s chair, Clooney again has chosen a great story (can this guy put a foot wrong?) Having just watched the entire season of West Wing, there’s nothing groundbreakingly politically new here, but with the pegigree of Seymour Hoffman (one of my favourite actors currently on screen), Paul Giamatti, Ryan Gosling and Marisa Tomei (who played opposite Gosling in the magnificent Crazy Stupid Love (below)) along with Clooney himself, whatever flaws it does have are smoothly plastered over with a very big spatula.

Verdict: The world’s press, giving it an overall 785{c8c3b3d140ed11cb7662417ff7b2dc686ffa9c2daf0848ac14f76e68f36d0c20} rating, can’t be that wrong… enjoy! ****