All the King's Men2 stars

Directed by Steven Zaillian
Starring Sean Penn, Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins, Kate Winslet and Mark Ruffalo


Like the rhetoric and politics of its Huey Long-inspired main character, Louisiana Governor Willie Stark (Sean Penn), All the King's Men is verbose and passionate, but ultimately shallow and lifeless. Worst of all, the film, a remake of the 1949 classic based on the Robert Penn Warren novel, is unfocused and unsure about how to exactly convey its purpose, just like Stark, himself. This lack of clarity inspires a feeling of overt manipulation and manhandling that makes us question even the film's few accomplishments.

Stark begins his career as an uncompromising idealist from a small town. Here, when the story allows us to follow his meteoric rise to power, All the King's Men flourishes. We can't help but think about contemporary issues like the Hurricane Katrina debacle in the film's early moments, when a school house collapses due to shoddy money politics. Our expectations are built up, and we ready ourselves for smart political commentary-none, however, is delivered.

All could be redeemed if Sean Penn's performance as Stark was only more compelling. The film could have easily been a thoughtful chronicle of Stark's descent into the gritty world of politics, but instead, we see an idealist in the first 20 minutes and then suddenly, for the rest of the film, a dramatically changed man. There is no transformation or progression of character. Penn plays Stark as a stereotype, and this ruins what could have otherwise been a very relevant political allegory.

Likewise, Jude Law, who plays Stark's right-hand man Jack Burden, is merely adequate in his role. He stands in the background well, and is never outright bad, but a lot more is required of his character than mere posturing. His character does not change throughout the film and thus is not compelling. He is opinionless and completely spineless throughout, merely standing and allowing events to overpower him without any form of resistance.

Turning in a better performance is Anthony Hopkins as Judge Irwin. Hopkins' talent stands head and shoulders above the rest of the cast. Audiences will relish his scenes in particular, if simply because most of the other characters come across as hollow.

The truly enjoyable and strong moments in this film are generally ruined by an intrusive score which repeatedly bashes viewers in the head in attempts at coercing them into responding emotionally. It is worst in scenes involving a love triangle, as it drowns out any pathos. Only in the aforementioned scenes with Hopkins, and during Stark's speeches, do we get a respite from the music. Perhaps that's why these are the only strong parts of the film.

All the King's Men is an extremely disappointing and frustrating film. It offers neither political nor historical insight, nor a gripping personal drama. Instead, we get little bits and pieces of both that ultimately signify nothing at all.

-Daniel Ortner