A powerful and incredibly well crafted political drama about how to remain human in a world of power and deceit. Clooney might be one of our best hopes for quality film making in the tradition of American movies for the next two or three decades to come. Starring, directing and screenwriting this powerhouse. The films is an homage to many other great film about intrigue and ensemble pieces (think Network) and does a great job. I takes a while to get its hooks in but once it switches from political mumbo jumbo to human interest you become involved in the characters. And what characters those are, lifelike, erratic, ambiguous characters – in short: real characters. Look elsewhere for stereotypes and Disney cut-outs, this is a film about real people and it shows.

The cast is great Gosling is haunting and plays a great role. Clooney keeps a bit in the back but his character in the film is more or less the embodiment of a concept, a dream and ultimately an American illusion of true politics in a land where the truth has never been a bestseller. The ending is a bit odd and I feel they should have ended on a lower note instead of what they did as it would have fitted the character and his position towards the end of the film much more.

One of the best films I have seen in 2011, what a masterpiece. Highly recommended.