All the King's Men (2006)

Director:

Steven Zaillian

Writers (WGA):

Steven Zaillian (screenplay)
Robert Penn Warren (novel)

Release Date:

22 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Time brings all things to light.

Plot:

Based on the Robert Penn Warren novel. The life of populist Southerner Willie Stark, a political creature loosely based on Governor Huey Long of Louisiana.

Plot Keywords:

Louisiana | Governor | Politician | Mistress | Journalist

Cast

Sean Penn	...	Willie Stark
Jude Law	...	Jack Burden
Anthony Hopkins	...	Judge Irwin
Kate Winslet	...	Anne Stanton
Mark Ruffalo	...	Adam Stanton
Patricia Clarkson	...	Sadie Burke
James Gandolfini	...	Tiny Duffy
Jackie Earle Haley	...	Sugar Boy
Kathy Baker	...	Mrs. Burden
Talia Balsam	...	Lucy Stark
Travis Champagne	...	Tom Stark (as Travis M. Champagne)
Frederic Forrest	...	Willie's Father (as Frederic F. Forrest)
Paul Desmond	...	Slade
Kevin Dunn	...	Alex
Thomas McCarthy	...	Editor (as Tom McCarthy)
Glenn Morshower	...	Commissioner
Jay Patterson	...	Senator
Michael Cavanaugh	...	Mr. Peyton
Caroline Lagerfelt	...	Mrs. Peyton
Valerie Stodghill	...	Miss DuMonde
Nicole Bobek	...	Ice Skater
Tom Aldredge	...	Carruthers' Banker
Lenka Peterson	...	Savannah Clerk
Eileen Ryan	...	Lily Littlepaugh
Gary Grubbs	...	Sheriff
Hunt Downer	...	Senate Leader
T.J. Falterman	...	Tom Stark at Age 11
Luke Morris	...	Jack at Age 10
Caroline Renee Christmann	...	Anne at Age 9
Montgomery John	...	Adam at Age 11 (as David Montgomery John)
Bruce Heinrich	...	Mr. Burden
Jordan Rhodes	...	MacMurphy
Charlie Newell	...	Reporter (as Charles Newell)
Joe Knezevich	...	Photographer 1
Marcus Hester	...	Photographer 2
Leila Bazzani	...	Burlesque Dancer
Keb' Mo'	...	Slade's Guitarist
Luis Campos	...	Snake Oil Salesman
Ralph E. Carroll Jr.	...	Priest
Benjamin C. Clement	...	River Power Clerk
Marlon Horton	...	Houseman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brett Beoubay	...	Reporter / Cameraman (uncredited)
Adrian Colon	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Edward Cummings	...	Bum at Mission (uncredited)
Michael Dardant	...	School Teacher (uncredited)
Joshua Davis	...	Jack - Age 4 (uncredited)
Louis Dupuy	...	Senator (uncredited)
Andy Evans	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Connor Fox	...	Tennis Boy (uncredited)
Shane Guilbeau	...	Carnie Worker (uncredited)
Melissa S. Harris	...	Park Patron (uncredited)
Kevin Lorio	...	Funeral Mourner / Speech Spectator (uncredited)
Brandon O'Dell	...	Photographer #3 (uncredited)
Mark Rayner	...	Press Photographer in Assassination Scene (uncredited)
Gary Michael Smith	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Michael Wozniak	...	Slade's Customer (uncredited)

Directed by
Steven Zaillian

Writing credits (WGA)
Steven Zaillian		(screenplay)
Robert Penn Warren		(novel)

Produced by
Scott Budnick	....	associate producer
James Carville	....	executive producer
Andreas Grosch	....	executive producer (as Andy Grosch)
Michael Hausman	....	executive producer
Ryan Kavanaugh	....	executive producer
Ken Lemberger	....	producer
Mike Medavoy	....	producer
Arnold Messer	....	producer (as Arnold W. Messer)
Todd Phillips	....	executive producer
Andreas Schmid	....	executive producer
David Thwaites	....	executive producer
Steven Zaillian	....	producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
Pawel Edelman

Film Editing by
Wayne Wahrman

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Patrizia von Brandenstein

Art Direction by
Gary Baugh

Set Decoration by
Tricia Schneider		(as Patricia Schneider)

Costume Design by
Marit Allen

Makeup Department
Coni Andress	....	hair stylist
Ulla Gaudin	....	hair stylist (as Ulla Aricayos)
Stacey Herbert	....	makeup artist
Michelle Johnson	....	key hair stylist
Kimberley Kirkpatrick	....	third makeup artist
Don Kozma	....	makeup artist: Mr. Penn (as Donald Kozma)
Tina LaSpina	....	additional makeup artist
Mike Manzel	....	special makeup effects
Robin Mathews	....	makeup artist
Linda Melazzo	....	key makeup artist
Glenn Mosley	....	additional makeup
Scott H. Reeder	....	assistant hair stylist
Marie-Ange Ripka	....	department head hair
Manlio Rocchetti	....	makeup department head
Linda Williams	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Kerstin Dyroff	....	production manager: VIP Medienfonds
Scott Ferguson	....	unit production manager
James R. Maceo	....	production supervisor
Samson Mucke	....	production supervisor: insert unit

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
G.A. Aguilar	....	second unit director
Stephen E. Hagen	....	second assistant director (as Stephen Hagen)
David McGiffert	....	first assistant director
Peter Thorell	....	additional second assistant director
Jimi Woods	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Michael Arena	....	on-set dresser/on-set greens
Mark Bachman	....	graphic artist
Paul Blanchard	....	props
James Brothers	....	property assistant
Matthew Cavaliero	....	assistant property master
Gary Cergol	....	graphic artist: post production
John B. Clarey III	....	foreman
Mary Clarey	....	welder
Daniel Coe	....	foreman
Randall S. Coe	....	construction coordinator
Daniel Coulthard	....	set dresser
James Dupuy	....	general foreman
Everette Eglin	....	purchaser/auditor
Ellen Freund	....	property master
Jeff Garbacz	....	carpenter
Tommy Gilbert	....	set dresser
Marcus J.N.A. Gill	....	set dresser
Jon Graubarth	....	props
Wylie Griffin	....	art department coordinator
Kevin Harber	....	prop maker
Claire Hassig	....	sign painter
Ryan Heck	....	set designer
Frank Hendrick	....	set dresser
Michael Hendrick	....	set dresser
John Herbert	....	paint foreman
Christina Eunji Kim	....	art department assistant
Andree Lago	....	scenic gangboss
John Lavis	....	construction medic
Javier Marcheselli	....	additional assistant props
Dave Merry	....	greensman
Molly Mikula	....	assistant art director
Garrik Palumbo	....	carpenter
Gordon Peck Jr.	....	signwriter
Adele Plauche	....	set designer
Joel Prihoda	....	leadperson
George Sanchez	....	labor
John Sanchez	....	on-set dresser
Stephen Siersema	....	scenic artist
Marcus Turchi	....	carpenter
Joe Walsh	....	set dresser
David Weathers	....	set dresser
Markus Wittman	....	props: re-shoot
Jennifer Brown	....	construction medic (uncredited)
Chad R. Davis	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Brick Mason	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Keith Wall	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher S. Aud	....	sound effects editor
Gary C. Bourgeois	....	supervising sound mixer
Thom Brennan	....	foley editor
Michael J. Broomberg	....	foley artist
Stephanie Brown	....	assistant sound editor
Vincent Cirilli	....	ProTools engineer
David A. Cohen	....	dialogue editor (as Dave A. Cohen)
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York
Terry Garcia	....	assistant sound editor
Kenneth Gilbert	....	adr recordist
Mark Goodermote	....	boom operator
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist
Scott Hecker	....	supervising sound editor (as Scott A. Hecker)
Chris Hogan	....	dialogue editor (as Christopher W. Hogan)
Drew Kunin	....	supervising sound mixer
Howard London	....	adr mixer
Eric A. Norris	....	sound effects editor
Brad North	....	sound effects editor
Greg Orloff	....	supervising sound mixer
Mark Pappas	....	foley editor
Michael Primmer	....	second boom operator
Joe Schiff	....	assistant sound editor
James Simcik	....	supervising adr editor
Frederick H. Stahly	....	dialogue editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
David Werntz	....	sound effects editor
Aaron Zeller	....	sound utility
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist
Deb Adair	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Lester Bern	....	special effects foreman (as Lester T. Bern)
Guy Clayton Jr.	....	special effects coordinator (as Guy Clayton)
Heath Hood	....	special effects technician (as G. Heath Hood)

Visual Effects by
Billy Barnhart	....	I/O manager: Gray Matter FX
Billy Barnhart	....	digital compositor
Joseph Brattesani	....	compositor: Gray Matter FX (as Joey Brattesani)
Zac Chowdhury	....	digital artist
Zac Chowdhury	....	rotoscope artist: Gray Matter FX
Marisa Clayton	....	project manager: Modern Videofilm
Rick Cortes	....	Inferno artist: MVF
Stuart Cripps	....	digital compositor
Julia Croon	....	visual effects coordinator
Sean C. Cunningham	....	digital effects artist: Gray Matter Effects
Nancy Hyland	....	compositor
Mark Intravartolo	....	Inferno artist
Joni Jacobson	....	compositor: Gray Matter FX
Joni Jacobson	....	digital artist
Kenneth Littleton	....	digital compositor
Margaux Mackay	....	visual effects supervising producer
Gray Marshall	....	visual effects supervisor
Andrew Midgley	....	visual effects producer: Modern Videofilm
Jennifer Mizener	....	visual effects producer
Eroc Moralls	....	Inferno artist
Eroc Moralls	....	compositor: Modern Videofilm
Billy Orban	....	3D modeler: Modern Videofilm
Billy Orban	....	texture artist: Modern Videofilm
Robb Porter	....	assistant project manager: Modern Videofilm (as Robert Porter)
Colleen Smith-Brattesani	....	compositor: Gray Matter FX (as Colleen Smith)
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration
Messrob Torikian	....	3D tracker: Gray Matter FX

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunt coordinator (as George Aguilar)
Chris Barnes	....	marine coordinator
Jill Brown	....	stunts
John Cenatiempo	....	stunt driver
Trace Cheramie	....	stunt safety
Bob Colletti	....	stunts
Tobiasz Daszkiewicz	....	stunt driver
Frank Ferrara	....	stunt double
James Fierro	....	stunt double
Jeff Galpin	....	utility stunts
Heath Hood	....	stunt safety diver (as G. Heath Hood)
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator (as Rick LeFevour)
Tom Lowell	....	stunt double
Carl Paoli	....	stunt double: Mark Ruffalo
Steven Ritzi	....	stunt double: Sean Penn (as Steve Ritzi)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sebastián Almeida	....	camera loader
Robert M. Andres	....	key grip
Alison Barton	....	grip
Angela Bellisio	....	assistant camera
Victor Brunette	....	video assist operator
Kenny Burke	....	best boy grip
Chip Carey	....	lamp operator
Andy Clapp	....	electrician
Andy Clapp	....	lamp operator
Jon Baronn Farmer	....	still photographer
Stanley Fernandez Jr.	....	first assistant camera
Morris Flam	....	gaffer
Matthew Gaumer	....	assistant camera
Tonja Greenfield	....	video assistant (as Tonja Thomas)
David Shane Guild	....	electrician
Kerry Hayes	....	still photographer
Tony Jenzano	....	video assist
Dan Kubicek	....	additional electrician
Charles Landers	....	first assistant camera
Clay Liversidge	....	best boy electric
Dave Lowry	....	rigging grip
Bruce MacCallum	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Scott Maher	....	rigging electrician
Louis Normandin	....	electrician
Louis Normandin	....	rigging electrician
Rocco Palmieri	....	rigging gaffer
John Panuccio	....	key rigging grip
Marek Rajca	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Humberto Recio	....	balloon light tech
Gerard Sava	....	Steadicam operator
Gerard Sava	....	additional camera operator
Eric Schmidt	....	video assist operator
Scott Schrebinski	....	rigging grip
Lowell Schulman	....	rigging electric best boy
Tom Shinn	....	electrician
Kennith G. Smith	....	grip
David Taylor	....	rigging grip
Greg Travis	....	rigging electrician
Tom Weston	....	camera operator
Barry Williamson	....	rigging grip
Earl Woods	....	rigging electrician
Richard Yacuk	....	rigging best boy
Chris Lombardozzi	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Matthew McGinn	....	additional video assistant (uncredited)

Casting Department
Ruth Caffery	....	extras casting assistant
Marty Cherrix	....	location casting (as Marty Keener Cherrix)
Vanessa Curtis Block	....	casting assistant
Elizabeth Greenberg	....	casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Lauren Leach	....	extras casting assistant
Gavin Nassar	....	casting assistant
Gary Michael Smith	....	extras casting assistant
Wendy Talazac	....	extras casting assistant
Diane Benz-Langsford	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Adkins	....	costume supervisor
Wendy M. Craig	....	key set costumer
Sandi Figueroa	....	costumer: Mr. Penn and Mr. Law
Suzy Freeman	....	costumer
Linda Gardar	....	costumer
S. Aimee Helms	....	wardrobe production assistant
Joni M. Huth	....	costume shop supervisor
Joseph La Corte	....	costumer
Elizabeth Macaluso	....	set costumer
Janet Melody	....	ager/dyer
Marcia Patten	....	costume supervisor
Christopher Peterson	....	assistant costume designer
Noel Rideout	....	wardrobe production assistant
Barnaby Smith	....	costumer: Mr. Penn and Mr. Law
John H. Smith	....	set costumer
Hartsell Taylor	....	key set costumer
Pamela Waggoner	....	set costumer
Ellen Ryba	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)
Giselle Spence	....	seamstress (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Gordon Antell	....	assistant editor
Ron Barr	....	digital intermediate editor
Jill Bogdanowicz	....	digital film colorist
Marisa Clayton	....	post-production Coordinator: Modern VideoFilm
Jason Fabbro	....	video colorist
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Laraine Moniz	....	post-production assistant
Julia Nessling-Douglas	....	digital intermediate producer
Jason Ninness	....	post-production coordinator
Desireh Sedaghat	....	editorial production assistant
Alexis Seymour	....	assistant film editor
Bronwyn Waddington	....	first assistant editor
Lawrence Howard Williams	....	post digital media operator
Jim Passon	....	color timer (uncredited)
Mark Sahagun	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)
Everette Webber	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music consultant
Michael K. Bauer	....	music editor (as Michael Bauer)
Dick Bernstein	....	music editor
T-Bone Burnett	....	executive music producer (as T Bone Burnett)
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Marc Gebauer	....	scoring technician
M.B. Gordy	....	musician: Percussion
Tom Hardisty	....	score recordist
James Horner	....	conductor
James Horner	....	orchestrator
Scott Hosfeld	....	musician
Jason Lloyd	....	scoring crew
Aaron Martin	....	music score programmer
Jennifer Nash	....	music editor
Simon Rhodes	....	music scoring mixer
Jay B. Richardson	....	music editor
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Ann Savoy	....	associate music producer
Jay Selvester	....	scoring crew
Patrick Spain	....	assistant scoring engineer
Akkara Srauy	....	music editorial assistant (uncredited )
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn
Ian Underwood	....	synthesizer programmer
Sylvia Wells	....	music scoring supervisor
Ryan Johnson	....	assistant to composer (uncredited)
Bryan Pezzone	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Skip Barbay	....	fuel truck driver
Mark Bascle	....	security driver: Mark Ruffalo
Donald Burdett	....	driver
Donald Dibartolo	....	driver
Monte Emery	....	picture cars
Peter Gondrella	....	van driver
Beau Holden	....	driver: James Gandolfini
Earl R. Hurst Sr.	....	transportation captain
Jerry Jackson	....	transportation coordinator
Brad Lips	....	wardrobe driver
Skip Long	....	driver
Vicki Lybrand	....	transportation dispatcher
Jesse Quiet	....	driver: cast
Paul Salard III	....	driver: set dress
Albert Samson	....	teamster driver

Other crew
Benjamin Adams	....	production accountant
Malcolm Adams	....	stand-in
Les Arceneaux	....	location assistant
Gloria Winship Ayon	....	animal trainer
Chris Barnes	....	marine coordinator
Matthew Barrabee	....	production assistant
Garrett Basch	....	assistant: Mr. Zaillian
Stephen Bauer	....	tennis coach
James Bearb	....	stand-in
Josef Brandmaier	....	bank manager
Bill Breaux	....	assistant to producers
Nicholas Brown	....	accounting clerk
Christopher Butte	....	set production assistant
Jason Calabro	....	production assistant
Danny Cosmo	....	water safety (as Danny Cosmo Higginbottom)
Reed Daigle	....	office production assistant
Frank Duffy	....	medical coordinator (as Frankie Lynch)
Frank Duffy	....	set medic (as Frankie Lynch)
Fletcher Elkington	....	production assistant
Andy Evans	....	photo double
Andy Evans	....	stand-in
Bridget Fenlason	....	stand-in
Kenny Gallagher	....	key second assistant accountant
Flax Glor	....	publicist
Jane Goldsmith	....	script supervisor
Sean Hackett	....	development intern
Florian Harms	....	legal counsel: VIP
Susan Hegarty	....	dialect consultant: Kate Winslet
Beau Holden	....	security: James Gandolfini
Heath Hood	....	marine coordinator
Ben Jackson	....	assistant: Mr. Law
Ingrid Johanson	....	production coordinator
Michael B. Johnson	....	first assistant accountant
Kelly A. Jones	....	set production assistant
Pamela Kay	....	photo double (as Pamela Kay Tujague)
Pamela Kay	....	stand-in: "Anne" (as Pamela Kay Tujague)
Amir R. Khan	....	production assistant (as Amir Khan)
Liz Landers	....	key craft service
Cynthia LeBlanc	....	stand-in: kate
Kelly Lind	....	assistant: Mr. Penn
Judd Lormand	....	stand-in adam
Dixie Louviere	....	stand-in
Aaron Martin	....	synthesizer programmer
David Ross McCarty	....	location manager
Jessica Seifert McCarty	....	location coordinator
Virginia McCollam	....	location scout
Douglas McKay	....	assistant to Mr. Medavoy
Matt McLellan	....	assistant location manager
Isaac Meisenheimer	....	production assistant
Janet Melody	....	textile artist
Lauren E. Michon	....	stand-in
John A. Mmahat Jr.	....	assistant location manager
Tim Monich	....	dialect coach
Charlie Newell	....	stand-in
Jason Ninness	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles
Berit Norrenberg	....	legal counsel: VIP (as Berit Wetzel)
Nathan Parker	....	production assistant
Matt Paull	....	key set production assistant
Paul Pawlowski	....	additional first assistant accountant
Paul Pawlowski	....	post-production accountant
Robb Porter	....	assistant project manager: Modern VideoFilm
Gwendalane Ramos	....	assistant accountant
Jennifer Ray	....	production assistant: insert unit
Chris Richard	....	production assistant
Jared Richard	....	location assistant
Bill Scharpf	....	marine safety
Eric Schmidt	....	photo double: "Sugarboy"
Eric Schmidt	....	production assistant
Eric Schmidt	....	stand-in: "Sugarboy"
Codie Scott	....	stand-in
Claudia Sendlbeck-Schickor	....	tax advisor: VIP
Catherine Shao	....	assistant: Mr. Hausman
Catherine Sibuma	....	production assistant
Thomas M. Smalley	....	production assistant
Tiffani L. Stephenson	....	production secretary
Sean Kevin Sweeney	....	production assistant
A. Rachel Tobias	....	production secretary
Karla Torres	....	production secretary: insert unit
Ashleigh Tucker	....	assistant production coordinator
Ian Underwood	....	synthesizer programmer
Trish Vengoechea	....	payroll accountant
Mathew Vitale	....	cook
Troy Wagner	....	production assistant
Georgianna Whitley	....	production assistant
Travis Quentin Young	....	adr voice
Mike Doto	....	production manager: titles (uncredited)
Aaron Merrell	....	production coordinator: Phoenix Pictures (uncredited)
Carter Mitchell	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Joanna Spears	....	accounting assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Kathleen Blanco	....	special thanks (as Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco)
Albert Maysles	....	special thanks
Ray Nagin	....	special thanks (as Mayor C. Ray Nagin)
Scott Walterschied	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)
• Relativity Media (in association with)
• Phoenix Pictures
• VIP 3 Medienfonds (as VIP Medienfonds 3A/4A)
• VIP 4 Medienfonds (as VIP Medienfonds 3A/4A)
• Rising Star (in association with)

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2006) (worldwide) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (2006) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2007) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Gaumont/Columbia TriStar Films (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2009) (UK) (TV) (BBC2)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Greece) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Gray Matter FX (visual effects)
• Modern VideoFilm (additional visual effects)
• Amalgamated Dynamics (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Animal Actors Sweet Sunshine  animals provided by
• Atlantic Cine Equipment  
• CSC  camera equipment provided by
• Castle Oaks Productions  soundtrack
• Event Rental  locations equipment rentals
• Event Rental  portable power systems and cables
• Event Rental  props
• Imaginary Forces  titles designed by
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• New Orleans Film Commission, The  film commission
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Sony Pictures Studios  post-production sound services
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  digital intermediate
• Unicredit, HVB Media Group  film banking [de]
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for an intense sequence of violence, sexual content and partial nudity

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41471) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Germany:12 | Finland:K-11 | UK:12 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Brazil:16 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade)

Filming Locations:

Albania Plantation - 1842 LA 182 E., Jeanerette, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The film was a commercial failure, despite its strong cast, direction, and production team. Few critics endorsed it, despite garnering strong Oscar buzz before its initial opening.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The impeachment proceedings against Willie Stark take place in 1954, but as Jack Burden is walking up the steps of the capital building at the end of the film (the steps list all the states in the order they joined the union), you can clearly see Alaska and Hawaii listed. Alaska and Hawaii both became states in 1959.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Willie Stark:Nail 'em up!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #18.40" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Una donna a quindici anni

Don't believe the (negative) hype

If there was one film in 2006 that suffered because of hype and rather uninformed critics, this would be it. First, the magazines played it up because of the all-star cast and fantastic source. Then, all of sudden, the nation's movie critics decided it wasn't what it was cracked up to be, and piled on it. One problem with the critics is that many of them clearly have not read the book. Richard Roeper complained in his newspaper review, for example, that the movie never shows you how Stark went from bad to good. Well, having reread the book in anticipation of the movie, I can state emphatically that that is because the book never explains it. Take your pick critics: is your criticism going to be that it's unfaithful or that it followed the book? Furthermore, the move is NOT a remake. The original All The King's Men movie, no matter how good it was, focused the story on Willie Stark. The real story (and this version) is focused on Jack Burden (which is why the whole backstory with Anne Stanton is thrown-in). To call it a remake shows how self-centered Hollywood can be (as fans of Brokeback Mountain are no doubt ruefully aware).

Now, what I thought of the actual movie: first and foremost, Sean Penn gives a absolutely brilliant performance, one of the best I've ever seen. I saw a Huey Long documentary a couple month before the movie, and Sean Penn evokes him magnificently. The scene where Willie Stark is stumping the state is simply film-making brilliance, as are his several hauntingly shot speeches. Jude Law gives a fine performance, as do all the supporting actors, especially Patricia Clarkson, who nails Sadie Burke. Some people had a problem with the accents, but I thought that Jude Law and Kate Winslet did adequate impressions and did not lose anything for it. And of course, the power of Warren's story shines through the whole movie. I do not personally know anyone who did not really like the movie.

Why did it not work with people? I'd say two reasons: first, first-person narrated classics are notoriously difficult to translate to film. Another example that comes to mind is The Great Gatsby, which has a similarly detached narrator, and did not succeed despite Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Karen Black and Sam Waterston among the ensemble. Second, to be brutally honest, if your favorite films are normally comedies or horror movies, you won't like this kind of movie.

All I can say is that I am surprised and somewhat astonished at the negative piling on. For any moviegoer who likes an epic story of humanity and politics in their harsh reality, All The King's Men is a must-see.