**1/2 (out of four)
Obviously, the timing isn’t great for a movie about Democrats duking it out for their party’s presidential nomination. And the secrets that leak out during “The Ides of March” certainly have been temporarily withheld many times before in real-life campaigns with stakes far higher than Academy award potential.
Yet the remaining potency of this political drama from director/co-writer/co-star/future presidential candidate (?)
The loaded cast is like a crew trying to stare “Contagion” in the face and gloat, “What, you call those movie stars?”
This is a movie about people who each draw lines in the sand in a different place, yet everyone compromises in ways they never thought they would. “Politicians Fight Dirty” isn’t front page news, and a certain level of naivete (or just arrogance) is necessary for these characters to get into the sticky situation that develops. But a convincing demonstration of the difference between change-based rhetoric and status-quo behavior can’t help but feel sadly relevant.
Watch Matt on "You & Me This Morning," Fridays at 7 a.m. on WCIU, the U
mpais@tribune.com