Playwriting Alum Beau Willimon (’03 SOA) wrote the screenplay for Ides Of March, adapted, produced and directed by George Clooney, and starring Ryan Gosling. Ides is an adaptation of Willimon's play, Farragut North, which tells the story of the press secretary of a Presidential candidate on the eve of the Iowa caucus. The film handles similar themes involving escalating political scandal and transgression.
Willimon has had first-hand experience on campaign trails, working for Senator Charles E. Schumer, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator Bill Bradley and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean. Farragut North has received critical acclaim from the New York Times and the LA Times. Ides of March premiered at the 68th Venice International Film Festival, and opened in wide release on October 7.
The Ides of March has recently been nominated for several awards:
Producer's Guild of America: Best Picture
Golden Globe Awards: Best Picture, Best Director (George Clooney), Best Actor (Ryan Gosling) and Best Screenplay (George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon)
