MovieChat Forums > The Ides of March (2011) Discussion > Things that Didn't Make Sense/Questions

Things that Didn't Make Sense/Questions

posted 8 years ago by nab_94010
2 replies | jump to latest

1. If Molly was pregnant and wanted to get an abortion, then why would she be having sex with Stephen?

2. Should the movie have let Republicans off the hook, as it did?

3. Speaking of his candidate, Gov. Mike Morris, Stephen tells a reporter, played by Marisa Tomei, "He's the only one who's going to make a difference in people's lives." (Yet, one of Morris’ positions is that we don't need Arab oil any more.)

4. Tomei's reporter appears to be the only newsperson working the campaign in a Cincinnati whose streets are quite empty.

5. It seemed too coincidental that Stephen walked past Molly’s hotel room right after she committed suicide.

6. Is it believable that Molly would commit suicide?

7. The second half of the movie presents Molly as a pure victim, so why, in the first half, was she such a seductress?

8. Stephen is such a savvy operator that it's difficult to believe he wouldn't know Molly before she introduces herself. (Her dad is the head of the DNC.)

9. Why does Sen. Thompson meet with Stephen after he’s been fired? (This happens late.)

10. Sen. Thompson had promised either of the candidates his delegates if he was offered a seat on the White House Senate. What was meant by this in terms of the delegates?

11. In a meeting between Stephen and Tom Duffy, Stephen says, “I quit. And I can give you everything on Morris. Everything. I can lay out his whole strategy for you.” Duffy responds, “I already know his strategy. Paul gave it all to Thompson." Why would Thompson have shared this information with Duffy?

[–] Who (5146) 3 years ago

1. I thought she only just found out she was pregnant that day, hence her call to the governor. She was already seeing Stephen and wanted the governor to give her the money for an abortion,

2. No, it was focused on one campaign during the primaries. I don’t think partisan politics was relevant. The story could have been based on a Republican candidate and not changed the dynamics of the drama one bit. I suspect they were making Clooney out to be a Bill Clinton type guy.

3. What party campaigner doesn’t say that line about their candidate?

4. That was weak, but I thought she was supposed to be a more influential and connected reporter, not just some hack in the press pool.

5. Thought the campaign were all staying at the same hotel, probably booked a group of rooms on the same floor.

6. Yes, not every suicide victim is alike. While we aren’t given much of a back story on her, Molly was making reckless choices in sleeping with high profile guys. Reckless behavior can be a symptom of suicidal tendencies.

7. The Molly character needed more context. I think she was just meant to be any naive, fresh out of college girl who got thrown in with the sharks. The coffee girl at the end is another one.

8. That could have been power posturing to make an inferior employee feel inferior. The “everyone has to pay their dues” treatment, even the kids who get jobs through their Daddy’s connections.

9. THIS ONE makes no sense. Unless Stephen managed to meet with Thompson before word got out.

10. Basically Thompson had enormous influence in Ohio, a big swing state. I think the number was 161 delegates. Thompson wanted a Cabinet position, specifically Secretary of State. There is an audionews clip with Rachel Maddow’s distictive voice playing the beginning of the film which explains this well.

11. They were all courting Thompson. Duffy probably had a sitdown with him to try and convince him to endorse Morris. He’d have to share something to persuade Thompson that their strategy was better for the Democrat ticket.

[–] SamNoyoun (6015) a year ago

9. Why does Sen. Thompson meet with Stephen after he’s been fired? (This happens late.)

He meets with Thompson to set up the deal he makes with the Governor (in the kitchen of the closed bar) that enables him to take Paul's job in return for keeping quiet about the pregnancy...