YOU might be forgiven for concluding that this American political thriller is a George Clooney vanity – he wrote and directed it and has second billing as Mike Morris, running for Democrat Party selection as Presidential candidate.

Top billing goes to Ryan Gosling as Stephen, second man in the campaign management team.

Other major players include Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Stephen’s immediate boss, George Giamatti as the other candidate’s manager and Marisa Tomei as a ruthless freelance reporter.

And Evan Rachel Wood as Molly, a political intern. In a cast of Hollywood majors, she stands out.

Not only for her breathtaking beauty. I blundered unsuccessfully through the Thesaurus in search of a word with more impact than “skill” to reflect the power of her acting.

In a film where we might see the candidate as hero, the screenplay (from the stage play “Farragut North” by Beau Willimon) perceives the young, keen, capable but sometimes fallible Stephen as dramatically a better bet.

The plot is wonderfully devious, the tensions develop with inexorable inevitability (I love a good tautology) embedded in a strong surprise level.

Any film with George Clooney offers prospect of merit. If he keeps making vanities as powerful and well-crafted as this one, we will be well served.

At Dendy, Greater Union