ALL THE KING'S MEN
Steven Zaillian's adaptation, Sean Penn's
acting brilliance
PopcornReel.com Movie Review: "All The King's Men"
By Omar P.L. Moore/September 22, 2006
Steven Zaillian's adaptation of Robert Penn
Warren's legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning 1946 novel of the same name is a
decent film, to say the least. Although it plods along for at least the
first 35 unremarkable minutes, it bursts to life in the form of Sean Penn, whose
charismatic and electrifying performance as Willie Stark, a confident, crafty
idealist who maneuvers and manipulates his way to the top as Louisiana governor
amdist a hot bed of politics in the American south, is sure to garner Mr. Penn a
bevy of award nominations over the next few months.
Watching this drama, which features an all-star cast that all give pitch perfect
performances, it is stunning to believe that this film had been delayed in
release on at least two occasions, dating back almost two years. The wait
is over, and whatever needed to be done to get this film released has paid off.
Stark grows up fast in Louisiana and his speeches to common folk and curious
constituents are the stuff that populists would be proud of. As Stark
grows, his constituents' belief grows. He is a politician who tells the
truth (which some cynics may argue is a rare quality), but he also has skeletons
making lots of noise in the closet. These skeletons are unearthed slowly
and timely in the narrative by Zaillian, who wrote the film's adapted screenplay
to reveal just how much the political chicanery that is present in politics
globally has changed little. Anyone who has read Mr. Warren's novel knows
what happens as a result, but even so, this film production becomes more
interesting as the second hour begins.
"Power! . . . " As Willie Stark, Sean Penn galvanizes "All The King's
Men", directed by Steven Zaillian. "...to the people!"
Penn as Stark greets the adoring masses. (Photos: Sony Pictures)
The film is told in narration from the
viewpoint of Jude Law's Jack Burden, a journalist for The Chronicle
newspaper in Louisiana who quits his job and is enlisted by Stark to join his
political team of operatives, which includes James Gandolfini from the American
television drama "The Sopranos" as "Tiny", who has an element of menace to him
here, but whose warmer, more humorous side comes through as Stark's political
sidekick of sorts. Patricia Clarkson is also on the team, as Sadie Burke,
a woman that the married Stark may or may not have had an affair with (we don't
see this in the film, but Clarkson's character repeatedly mentions it).
Clarkson often has some of the film's best lines, and most of them are delivered
with a deadpan demeanor that produces some of the bigger laughs in a film that
is sometimes teaming with tension, suspense and edginess.
Stark's glory is complete as he becomes the governor of Louisiana, but that is
just the beginning. Using his old reporter investigative instincts, Jack
discovers that things aren't what they seem, and that a childhood sweetheart
that he still holds dear is embroiled in some of the political salesmanship and
turmoil that has propelled Stark to the height of his political power.
Kate Winslet, who appears unrecognizable here as Anne Stanton, continues to
exhibit acting talents that will see her become a regular leading lady in the
future, and she has a small but pivotal role here. Similarly, Mark Ruffalo
as Winslet's brother Adam, plays a key role in the proceedings. Ruffalo
plays a reluctant operative in Stark's camp, but he is childhood friendship with
Jack keeps any reluctance he may have at bay. In his small role he too is
effective.
When you add the likes of Frederic Forrest (back on the big screen after a three
or four year absence -- you may remember him from the 1993 film "Falling Down"
in which he terrorizes Michael Douglas), and Anthony Hopkins as an embattled
judge that Stark threatens, along with Kathy Baker as Jack's mother, how on
earth can Academy voters or audiences go wrong?
Copyright 2006. PopcornReel.com. All Rights Reserved.
"All The King's Men", directed more than competently by Steven Zaillian,
opens today in North America and is rated PG-13 for an intense sequence of
violence, sexual content and partial nudity. The film's duration is two
hours.