All the King’s Men Part 1 – 2006

This remake of a classic American Novel is cast full of talent.  From Sir Anthony Hopkins’ role of Judge Irwin to Sean Penn’s portrayal of a Governenor driven by his emotions, this modern day film noir is driven at times to emotional heights.  Add to this bag of acting the tight camera shots and flashback editing of Steven Zallian, and you have an emotionally brooding mix that produces just the right amount of tension to keep the viewer watching. My only concern early on was some of the casting choices (James Gandolfini will forever be an italian mobster in my mind). However, as the movie progressed the story took center stage, as is only right when turning a pulitzer-prize-winning book into a movie.  Visually this film is definitely worth a second glance.  From the opening and closing shot of the Louisiana State Seal to the black and white effects, this movie uses the physical film as its canvas.  Some shots left me feeling as though I were watching a Hitchcock movie.   In the end, it wasn’t as tightly edited as it could have been.  The relationships seemed flat at points and then dynamic at others, leaving me with an uneasy disbelief in some of the emotion portrayed, but in the end I don’t think I am any dumber as a result of watching it.  In this day and age, that is saying something.