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All the King's Men (Special Edition)
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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Sony
EAN: 0043396114364
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Item Dimensions: 20
Label: Sony Pictures
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed),
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
MPN: 11436
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Region Code: 99
Release Date: December 19, 2006
Running Time: 128 minutes
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: September 22, 2006
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Editorial Review:
Adaptation of Robert Penn Warren's classic novel All the King's Men about the rise of a politician who loses his integrity as he becomes more powerful.Features:Featurette (Making-of featurette; The Legend and Lore of Huey Long; NY Event featurette; On-location featuretteInterview(s) (with the cast)System Requirements:Run Time: 128 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG - 13 UPC: 043396114364 Manufacturer No: 11436
Sean Penn gives another powerhouse performance in All the King's Men, leading a topnotch cast in writer-director Steven Zaillian's underrated adaptation of the Pulitzer prize-winning 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warren. When you consider that the previous 1949 film version earned well-deserved Academy Awards for director Robert Rossen and actors Broderick Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge, it's no surprise that Zaillian's film was expected to earn similar acclaim, but lukewarm critical reception and disappointing box-office gave it the stigma of a noble failure. And while the film (which moves Warren's story from the Depression-era '30s to the early 1950s) suffers from uneven pacing, partial miscasting, and an occasional lack of dramatic tension, it still qualifies as a first-class production that resonates with the timeless relevance of Warren's piercing political classic. Like Broderick before him, Penn is riveting as Louisiana governor Willie Stark, an upstart political dynamo (freely inspired by controversial real-life Louisiana governor Huey P. Long) whose rise to power is ultimately doomed by corruption and betrayal.
Jude Law costars as political reporter Jack Burden, our firsthand witness to Stark's rise and inevitable fall; his orbit of political insiders includes a corrupt judge (Anthony Hopkins) with a dark secret to hide; a longtime friend (Mark Ruffalo) and former lover (Kate Winslet) who fall victim to Stark's influence; and political staffers (James Gandolfini, Patricia Clarkson) who remain powerless against Stark's ill-fated populist juggernaut. At Sean Penn's request, former child star Jackie Earle Haley (from the original Bad News Bears) makes a welcome return to movies as Willie Stark's quietly intense bodyguard, "Sugar-Boy." Coproduced by Louisiana-born political consultant James Carville, filmed on authentic Louisiana locations and boasting all the stately, luxurious production values of a would-be Oscar contender, All the King's Men clearly benefits from Penn's fiery performance and Zaillian's earnest embrace of Warren's still-potent subject matter. And while the film's shortcomings may have prevented it from achieving unanimous acclaim, this is still a serious, well-crafted drama with much to say about the insidious potential for fascism in America, especially when well-meaning politicians lose their souls to power. --Jeff Shannon
On the DVD
The special features that accompany All the King's Men further demonstrate the film's in-production status as a potential classic. While the "making of" featurette is perfunctory at best, the other featurettes are definitely worthwhile despite Sean Penn's conspicuous absence. In "Shake Hands with the Devil," the film's cast, producer, and writer-director Steven Zaillian discuss the timeless theme of political corruption; "An American Classic" is a concise profile of Robert Penn Warren, paying tribute to the poet and author's literary achievements; and "The Legend and Lore of Huey Long" examines the life and legacy of the still-beloved governor who won the hearts of working-class Louisianans while falling prey to his own ambition. "LA Confidential" is a brief featurette about the film's use of authentic Louisiana locations and the positive effect they had on cast and crew; three deleted scenes were obviously cut from the film for purposes of time, yet offer ample proof of Zaillian's established skill as one of Hollywood's top screenwriters; and the alternate ending extends beyond the film's final shot, with a funeral scene that serves as a melancholy (and ultimately unnecessary) coda to the film's Greek-tragic drama. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Two Hours Too Short
If you have not read the book, you could be excused for being terribly confused about plot, character motivation, and the need for side commentary. Jack's relationship with the Stantons (Adam and Anne)and their eventual relationship with Stark is hopelessly botched. It is as if these crucial characters were thrown in for atmosphere. The film captures none of the depth or emotional energy of the book. I just can't believe that Sadie Burke could be this miscast. Everything about this character ... Read More
Rating:  - An all-too-real mirror held up to American politics
This is a tragically underrated film; the one significant deficiency is the changing time frame, advancing the narrative twenty years past Hughie Long's era and into the period of McCarthyism. To fully appreciate this movie, the viewer might first read R. Penn Warren's pulitizer prize novel. Warren always struggled with plot lines--and perhaps this version ties all the stray threads together a little too neatly. The point, however, is that all the plot changes work both dramatically and thematically ... Read More
Rating:  - Use subtitles and you'll be happy
Considering that half the dialogue is unintelligible use the English subtitles option and view this as a foreign film (I'm not joking). Southern accents aren't usually too difficult to understand if you are from elsewhere however the actors are either from England or Brooklyn and I'll bet even Southerners can't understand them. Give it a try and you'll see that the movie becomes a lot more enjoyable.
Rating: - Way underrated - and Penn is amazing!
I can understand some people thinking Penn's performance is too over-the-top, but I think they miss the point. He is intentionally over-the-top and plays it so perfect that I forget it's Sean Penn. The character is nothing like anything Penn has done before which means he is intentionally playing him that way. And the man the character was based on is renowned for being the most flamboyant politician ever to make it that far in politics - to this day!
I admit I had to watch the film twice ... Read More
Rating: - Powerful Penn Performance
WOW, is all I can say about Sean Penn in this great movie. I've had FARGO as my all time favorite movie, now this is replacing it. I watched twice in one night.
The cinematography was excellent and being a Southern lover, I enjoyed the scenery and New Orleans scenes.
I never thought Sean Penn would be my new favorite actor, but he did an excellent job in this film as the viewer vacillates between love and hate for his colorful portrayal of Huey Long-like Governor of Louisiana. ... Read More
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