Sean Penn gives another powerhouse performance in All the King's Men, leading a top notch 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 (The Talented Mr Ripley) co-stars as political reporter Jack Burden, our first-hand 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." Co-produced 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, Amazon.com

Firstly I will give the positives :

1: Excellent photography
2: Good performance from Jude Law

The negatives :

1: Sean Penn (usually an actor I like) performance made no sense and I needed subtitles at times to understand what was being said.

2: The film seemed overlong yet the story seemed to make no sense and was rushed.

3: Why Stark went from naive idealist to morally corrupt politician was not explained and seemed to happen overnight

Unfortunately this is not a film that I would recommend - and a disappoint when you consider the excellent cast.

"All The King's Men" is a political thriller that rises far above its
machinations. At its heart is a tale of doomed love, the corrosive
effect of time, and ultimately tragedy. It's lyrical and powerful, with
great performances all round and brilliant direction.

A boring movie with no story.....i cannot believe something like this is regarded as enjoyable! Do not waist your time watching this, i've waisted my time for you

I sat down with my wife expecting an excellent film but unfortunately this is a rather bleak and slow movie.

The only pluses are Jude Law's performance and the photography.

Sean Penn does not manage to convey Willie Stark's personality, I am starting to feel that now he's not as good as he used to be.

In short, only watch it if you haven't got anything else.

3.5 stars
Willie Stark: Remember, it is not I who have won, but you. Your will is my strength, and your need is my justice, and I shall live in your right and your will. And if any man tries to stop me from fulfilling that right and that will, I'll break him. I'll break him with my bare hands, for I have the strength of many." IMDB

Willie Stark is the quintessential politician. He started out an honest man and then little by little the urge to win big takes over. The first little lie 'won't hurt them', and downhill from there. Robert Penn Warren's, Pulitizer Prize novel, by the same name 'All The King's Men' was inspired by the infamous Huey Long, Governor and Senator of Lousiana. But, then again, this movie could be about any politician. The making and breaking of a politician comes full fore. Robert Penn Warren observed firsthand, Huey Long, when he took a teaching job at Louisiana State University in 1934. He found the measure of the man.

Sean Penn as Willie Stark is a powerful take of the man. Somehow, something is missing, however, the full meaning of the man is not shown but implied. Jude Law as Jack Burden is an understated play but IMO he steals this movie. His character is full of the irony and the bleakness of the future of politics. He portrays the measure of a man caught in the grip of alcochol and finding his way. Anthony Hopkins as Judge Irwin lives up to his image of the world's greatest living actor. Seemingly honest and upright, but the misery is found once you dig deeply enough. Kate Winslet's characater, Anne Stanton, is so underplayed she could have sent in a stand in. Mark Ruffalo as Adam Stanton is well done. Patricia Clarkson as Sadie Burke plays the perfect foil to Willie Stark, but her character is not on screen enough to matter. James Gandolfini as Tiny Duffy, is a character that adds not much to this movie. We recognize him from 'The Sopranos' and that is his due.

"Perhaps the most remarkable thing about "All the King's Men" is how contemporary so many of its issues seem. Not only the classic question of means and ends, the validity of Stark's insistence that "good can always be made from bad," but also the question of who if anyone in American life speaks for the poor and dispossessed, a question that was last raised, ironically, when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.When Penn's Stark cries out to his constituency, "Your will is my strength, your need is my justice," he is striking a chord that may yet be heard again."
Kenneth Turan

This movie kept my attention because of Jude Law's performance and the cinematogrophy. The scenery of Lousiana and New Orleans in particular. Beautiful in both aspects. A movie that speaks to us of our own political process. The movie follows Robert Penn Warren's novel closely and that mnay have been the downfall. Something is missing that would have made this move great. It is too subtle, too slow, too downplayed. I would, however, recommend this movie for the feel of the South, and the play of politics. Recommended. prisrob 3-17-07