Anyone plan on seeing "All The King's Men"?

[Zomby Woof]

It opens September 22. I saw the trailer for this, and I am there. Sean Penn brings Willie Stark (and by proxy, Huey Long) alive. He is going to be fantastic. Anthony Hopkins will deliver another reliably solid performance. This is one of my favorite novels of all time, and although the 1949 film version was great in its time, it is one remake I will not criticize for being done. It is due for a fresh version!

[haf216]

1. I guess I will see it, but only because I live in Louisiana.

[nytemare]

2. Helluva cast.

For some reason I don't like Sean Penn as a person much. I know he is a big dem supporter, but something about him I just don't like. However, as an actor, he is excellent.

Jude Law and Kate Winslet should be good as well.

I look forward to it.

[Broken_Hero]

3. never head of it until now

can you give me the short short?

[Zomby Woof]

4. It's based on one of the great political novels

Although Robert Penn Warren denied it, the character Willie Stark was very likely based on the legendary Louisiana populist Huey Long.

A partial synopsis I lifted from the web, because I want to avoid spoilers:

All the King's Men is the story of the rise and fall of a political titan in the Deep South during the 1930s. Willie Stark rises from hardscrabble poverty to become governor of his state and its most powerful political figure; he blackmails and bullies his enemies into submission, and institutes a radical series of liberal reforms designed to tax the rich and ease the burden of the state's poor farmers. He is beset with enemies--most notably Sam MacMurfee, a defeated former governor who constantly searches for ways to undermine Willie's power--and surrounded by a rough mix of political allies and hired thugs, from the bodyguard Sugar-Boy O'Sheean to the fat, obsequious Tiny Duffy.

All the King's Men is also the story of Jack Burden, the scion of one of the state's aristocratic dynasties, who turns his back on his genteel upbringing and becomes Willie Stark's right-hand man. Jack uses his considerable talents as a historical researcher to dig up the unpleasant secrets of Willie's enemies, which are then used for purposes of blackmail. Cynical and lacking in ambition, Jack has walked away from many of his past interests--he left his dissertation in American History unfinished, and never managed to marry his first love, Anne Stanton, the daughter of a former governor of the state.

[mark414]

7. that's strange that he denied it

because while i haven't read the book or seen the original, i saw a trailer for it in the theater about a month ago and the entire time i was thinking that it was a huey long biopic...:shrug:

[Zomby Woof]

10. The denials are for self-preservation

He never outright denied it, so much as he never admitted it. Keeps him in good legal stead and so forth.

[Broken_Hero]

13. thanks for the short short

sounds like a great storyline/book, and I hope the movie lives up to it...:)

[buddhamama]

5. i plan to

i saw the commercial for it a little bit ago. The cast is awesome. I have high hopes for the film. :hi:

[Zomby Woof]

8. Fall means serious films

I love my summer comedies as much as anyone, but I look forward to quality fall dramas. :hi: BM!

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Hell of a good cast! Sean Penn, Hopkins, Kate Winslet - can it get any

better?

I don't think so!

I was going to post a thread on this movie after seeing to adverts for it this eve, but you already have done so.

[Zomby Woof]

9. I am always a half step ahead of you

Sean Penn smokes Ron Howard's toenails for breakfast.

[Rabrrrrrr]

12. Yeah, and you masturbate to Battlefield Earth every morning

before reading your Ayn Rand.

:eyes:

[mark414]

11. how's this for a better cast?

robert de niro, angelina jolie, alec baldwin, william hurt, timothy hutton, john turturro, chazz palminteri, billy crudup, joe pesci and more....

the good shepherd, directed by robert de niro