All the King's Men 2006

views updated

All the King's Men ★½ 2006 (PG-13)

Based on Robert Penn Warren's 1946 novel, this bungled remake of the 1949 film focuses on the rise and fall of a Huey P. Long-like politician, with Penn all bug-eyed sputterings as southern demagogue Willie Stark. Besides the out-of-place Penn, there's a bunch of miscast Brits, including narrator Law as boozy journalist Jack Burden, Winslet as Stark's unrequited love Anne, and Hopkins as a judge that Willie wants dirt on. Louisiana native Clarkson and former child actor Haley are about the only two actors who probably won't make you squirm. 128m/C DVD, Blu-ray Disc . US Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Clarkson, Kathy Baker, Jackie Earle Haley, Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Dunn, Frederic Forrest, Talia Balsam, Glenn Morshower; D: Steven Zaillian; W: Steven Zaillian; C: Pawel Edelman; M: James Horner.