‘All The King’s Men’- Robert Penn Warren’s 1946- Pulitzer-prize winning best selling novel was made into a Hollywood movie in 1949 and it won multiple Oscars. The 2006- version, now available on DVD, has already had its fair share of critical panning. Most American critics have gone ballistic about the wrong Southern American accents from a British-dominated cast. But for the uninitiated movie buff (read yours truly!) that shortcoming is not too apparent and perhaps that’s why I liked the movie. No- it’s not Oscar material- even though it tries hard to achieve that status but still it makes a pretty interesting viewing with its lavish production values, complex drama and high profile cast.

Now, the story: Willie Stark (Sean Penn) - a small town idealist, who is sweet-talked by the middlemen to enter the state Governor elections. The plot is simple- to split votes of the white farmers to benefit their own candidate. Once Stark realizes their duplicity, he brilliantly counters their strategy with his street-smartness, acid tongue and ability to connect to the masses. Playing the card of ‘Village simpleton duped by the city bigwigs’ and promising the moon to his voters, he wins the elections and becomes a Governor. With power, Stark turns into a corrupt womanizer who is law unto himself. On one hand, he is using extravagant populist measures to keep his electorate happy and on other hand, he is taking on the senate and big business players.

Helping Stark in this endeavor is Jack Burden (Jude Law) – a young reporter who has turned into his advisor. Jack’s every close associate- his guardian Judge Irvin (Anthony Hopkins), childhood friend Adam Stanton (Mark Ruffalo) and ex-love Anne Stanton (Kate Winslate) somehow ends up getting sucked into Stark’s diabolical schemes and all that Jack can do is to watch helplessly. As Stark’s stormy personal and political affairs spiral out of control, the only way to go is down! 

More than a period film or a political thriller, this film works as a multi-layered human drama. Penn is good as Stark (a character based on 1930s- Louisiana governor Huey Long) but plays it a bit over-the-top. The rest of the performances are competent rather than excellent. Still ‘All The King’s Men’ is worth a watch.