MovieChat Forums > The Ides of March (2011) Discussion > The scandal will be all over the tabloid...

The scandal will be all over the tabloids by morning

posted 10 years ago by fishfry
7 replies | jump to latest

This movie lost track of its own plot.

Young woman dies of a drug overdose. What happens automatically in that case? The medical examiner does an autopsy. And what will they find? That she recently had an abortion. And when the cops, reporters, and political operatives start asking around, they'll find the clinic where she had the abortion. And the lady at the counter will mention that the girl was accompanied by the Governor's press secretary ... who she recognized from seeing him on tv.

It's absurd that there is some question as to what will happen next at the end of this film. The scandal will be all over the world within hours.

And remember, the intern's father is the chairman of the DNC. He'll certainly see the autopsy report ... as will Paul, who "got her the intern job," as he explains near the end of the film. You don't think Paul will put 2 and 2 together?

Someone explain to me how all of this would not happen. When Stephen walked the girl into the abortion clinic I nearly jumped out of my chair yelling at the tv. "He's the Governor's press secretary, what makes anyone think the lady at the front desk doesn't recognize him?"

Are we supposed to completely suspend our rational senses just to pretend that we've seen some sort of intellectual political movie? Maybe I've seen too many episodes of Law & Order. Girl dies, autopsy shows she's pregnant, the clinic is identified, and ... oh yeah I almost forgot. The day after the intern dies, the Governor's campaign manager is fired.

And we're supposed to believe the press won't be all over this? Campaign intern dies of drug overdose and campaign manager is fired the next day. And nobody will ask "Who was doing the intern and why was Paul fired?" Come on, that's the first question everyone would ask. Reporters will be camped out in front of Paul's house asking him if he was the father. And Paul will start putting everything together pretty quick, won't he?

After the movie ends, the scandal blows up and the Governor is out of the race within 48 hours. And Stephen is under arrest for interfering with a crime scene. You think that wouldn't come out too?

[–] mmitsos-1 10 years ago

You're right....All of what you described would happen. But, hopefully the writers assume that we understand that a scandal that huge can't be covered up for too long, given what happened and the obvious suspects. But yes, realistically, the governor would have been found out and dropped out LONG before Election Day.

[–] wellwellwell34 10 years ago

Yes, you watch too much Law & Order. Medical examiners don't automatically do an autopsy because someone ODs. And abortion is legal so there's no reason the police would investigate it. And medical records are kept confidential so the clinic wouldn't be able to confirm or deny she was a patient do to patient confidentiality.

[–] bradevans051 10 years ago

Her prescription bottles are right there. With the doctor's name on it. Check where the doctor works, abortion clinic.

Who cares about confidentiality? What could that possibly matter in the court of public opinion?

You don't even need an autopsy to prove anything and the police are irrelevant.

[–] Alfabeta 9 years ago

Not to mention that her phone is missing and she just got fired for unexplained reasons by the head of the campaign whom she was seeing (and the abortion clinic can confirm that he was there).

[–] gajjar-rushi-a 9 years ago

You are absolutely correct and I felt the same way you did. I did not understand what happened to that case? She was a girl from campaign and autopsy and her father could kill entire campaign but nothing happened and nothing was shown in that context. I am glad that you've raised this point and I really had to suspend my senses and I have instantly deleted the movie as soon as I completed it and gave it only half of rating.

It is not necessary that big stars and George Clooney can always make good movies. I agree with this guy and disagree with ending and plothole.

[–] Naeblis5 8 years ago

I disagree, the abortionist would keep things confidential, the police wouldn't get involved - it's legal, and I doubt they would tell the parents either.

There would probably be an ongoing investigation, but as the signs point to suicide not murder....

[–] Where (1238) a month ago

Also this was 2010 looking back at 2008. News didn’t go as viral then. This would have been a curious story for Washington insiders but it would not be of much interest to the rest of the country. No one cared about scandals involving secondary and tertiary players in a primary campaign. Without hard evidence linking it to the Governor, it would be forgotten in a day.