wmcg001 This movie is especially timely with the political season we're in. Sean Penn is a phenomenally talented actor. He takes the role of Willie Stark, making him so believable and enduring you end up falling in love with the guy. In telling this story about a country hick who becomes one of Louisiana's most powerful politicians has pitch perfect acting from all the stars in the picture. Big names like Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo, Jude Law, but seeing Sean Penn bring to life Willie brought me a new appreciation of Penn's acting ability. This movie is entertaining. I didn't see it when released and it's availability on cable never persuaded me to invest the time until this week. I thought it was one of the best movies I ever saw. It is a big sweeping movie that uses "technicolor" to it's best advantage. It is beautifully filmed, very visually appealing with direction that makes the distinguished cast tell a deep story simply and beautifully. The movie has style and flow. All The Kings Men is Sean Penn's to proudly own. Sean Penn has never disappointed me, however he is so real in this movie. His portrayal of Willie makes me want to vote for him for president of the United States this November.

don2507 When he was President FDR said the two most dangerous men in America were Douglas MacArthur and Huey Long, implying that any native-born fascism would likely originate from those sources to his right and left. The Willie Stark of Robert Penn Warren's "All the King's Men" is off course molded from Huey Long, the "Kingfish" himself, the very epitome of southern populists. The 1949 film version, directed by Robert Rossen and starring Broderick Crawford, is a classic and one of my favorite films on politics. The courthouse rings, the electoral populism, and the back-room deals are effectively depicted in the 1949 film while this current version (although produced by James Carville, the notable Democratic political strategist) seems to stress the politics less while emphasizing the emotional predicaments of Jack Burden (an ex-journalist and now Stark's associate) and his well-off family friends. The film does indeed depict Willie Stark's rise to political power, and shows how this intertwines with the emotional vulnerabilities of Burden's folks, but I believe the 1949 film had a better balance between the politics and Burden's connections.Not having read the novel, I can't say whether Sean Penn is a better Willie Stark than Broderick Crawford, but I'm convinced he's a better southern / agrarian populist (a better Huey Long) than Crawford. Crawford's characterization always struck me as too angry for a populist politician, while Penn's depiction seems to have the right blend of mocking humor and impish rascality to move the masses toward the voting booth. One weakness in this film (and also prevalent in the 1949 film, but less so) is the startlingly fast transition Stark makes from honest political reformer to power-hungry dictator. This film calls out for an intelligent discussion of issues related to human nature and political power but we don't really get it in a satisfying way. Does power corrupt and absolute power corrupt absolutely, and are there personalities more immune or less immune to its temptations? Do the ends justify the means (when the "ends" refer to building schools, roads and hospitals) or do corrupt or evil "means" sully virtuous "ends"? The producers of this film, in the special interviews, seem to emphasize the accomplishments of the "Kingfish"; perhaps they're "channeling" Lenin who famously, and ominously, said: "you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs".

Desertman84 All the King's Men is a new film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize- winning novel,All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. The story is about the life of populist Southerner Willie Stark, a political character loosely based on Governor Huey Long of Louisiana.Sean Penn stars playing Stark. It also has an ensemble all-star cast that includes Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Anthony Hopkins, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Clarkson and Jackie Earle Haley after thirteen years.It was directed by Steven Zaillian.The story starts when Louisiana newspaper reporter Jack Burden takes a personal interest in Willie Stark, an idealistic small-town lawyer. Circumstances develop that result in Stark's being urged to run for governor by a local political leader, Tiny Duffy. Burden has been raised around politics. He is the former lover of Anne Stanton, whose father was once governor. Also,he was raised by Judge Irwin, his stepfather.In time, Jack and political strategist Sadie Burke reveal to Stark that he is actually a dupe in the governor's race, expected to split the vote, spout the party line and lose. This opens his eyes to the realities of politics, and how it led him to a tragic life in the end.Inspite if its ensemble cast of talented superstars,the film fails due to a lack of political insight and an overall lack of cohesion in telling the story.Also,the film was tedious and the accents spoken by the characters could have been bothersome to the viewer.Aside from that,it suffers from too much conversation that made the film boring.But nevertheless,one cannot deny the great performances especially that of Penn,who played Stark magnificently. It is still a watchable film from beginning to end.

mfgjensen "All the kings men" may be the biggest snub in Oscar history. I cant say i remember any of the bad press or reviews. Im not even sure when i first heard about it, but i certainly remember the first time i watched it. As far as movies go its just about perfect. I really don't understand how anybody could have a negative opinion of this film. Sean Penn is amazing as Willie Stark. His performance must be ranked with the all time greats. The script,score,directing,editing, and supporting cast are all equally magnificent. From beginning to end this film does not disappoint. If you appreciate cinema this is a must see. Don't let the bad reviews fool you this film is a masterpiece.