‘All the King’s Men’ dramatises the rise and fall of a charismatic politician with a winning touch whose good works are overshadowed by scandal and whose reputation is disgraced by impeachment. Released in 2006, All the King’s Men, a 120-minute movie was screened on Friday at the premises of the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) on Friday to a select gathering.
All the King’s Men is a 2006 film adaptation of the 1946 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Robert Penn Warren. It was directed by Steven Zaillian, who also produced and scripted the film. The story is about the life of Willie Stark (played by Sean Penn), a fictional character resembling Louisiana governor Huey Long. The film co-stars Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Anthony Hopkins, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Clarkson and Jackie Earle Haley in his first film since Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence thirteen years prior.
‘All the King’s Men’ had previously been adapted by Robert Rossen in 1949. Although this rendition does not follow the 1949 film’s narrative and is more faithful to the novel than the earlier movie, the 2006 film is often considered a remake of the 1949 version. According to Internet Movie Database (IMDb), Zaillian never saw the original film, and adapted the screenplay solely from Warren’s novel.
Filming took place in New Orleans, Morgan City, Donaldsonville, at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge and many other places in Louisiana. The world premiere was held at the Toronto Film Festival on September 11, 2006. There the film was first screened to the press. A special screening was held at the Tulane University in New Orleans on September 16, 2006.
Members of the audience at the SAFMA screening when asked whether there was any such politician in Pakistan who could easily be compared to this character, a few of them named Imran Khan who they said was outspoken with good leadership capabilities but ran a “one man show.” “But Imran Khan’s career as a politician has yet to flourish, how can we say his career is over because of scandals,” commented a viewer, smilingly adding that no other such politician existed in Pakistan because if he was scandalised he became even more adamant to go on and if he was not, he continued regardless.
The film tells the story of Louisiana newsreporter Jack Burden who takes a personal interest in Willie Stark, an idealistic small-town lawyer. Circumstances develop that result in Stark’s being urged to run for governor by a local political leader, Tiny Duffy. Jack has been raised around politics. He is the former lover of Anne Stanton, whose father was once governor. Jack was raised by Judge Irwin, his stepfather, an honorable man.
In time, Jack and political strategist Sadie Burke reveal to Stark that he is actually a dupe in the governor’s race, expected to split the vote, spout the party line and lose. This opens his eyes to the realities of politics, and he vows not to be fooled again. He defies Duffy publicly and begins to give speeches with straightforward talk that the public appreciates. He becomes governor in the next election, using all means necessary. Duffy now works for him as lieutenant governor.
He also has a silent, menacing driver cum bodyguard called Sugar Boy. Finally, he encourages Jack to come work for him as an adviser. Judge Irwin disapproves, seeing Stark as an opportunist. Anne Stanton seems to agree and so does her brother, Dr Adam Stanton. Stark is a persuasive man, however, and knows how to get his way. He has a pet project, building a new hospital, and convinces Dr Stanton to run it for him. He also begins an affair with Anne Stanton, provoking Sadie’s jealousy and Jack’s disappointment.
Criticised publicly by Judge Irwin and embroiled in increasing political controversy, Stark demands that Jack dig up dirt on the judge to be used against him. Jack insists that no such dirt exists, but he does manage to uncover the fact that many years ago, Judge Irwin accepted a bribe. Following this revelation, the judge commits suicide.
Stark has by now become a ruthless tyrant, popular with the voters but a charlatan to those who really know him. Dr Stanton discovers that even the hospital is a front for the governor’s own personal and political gain. He lies in wait at the state capitol, and assassinates Stark, but is then shot and killed by Stark’s bodyguard. The film was a commercial failure, both critically and financially, despite its high-profile cast, direction, and production team. Few critics endorsed it, despite garnering strong Oscar buzz before its initial opening.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, a website that reviews and rates movies, awarded this movie an 11 percent “Rotten” based on 153 reviews with a consensus stating “With its star-studded cast and hallowed source material (the novel of the same name won the Pulitzer Prize, and the 1949 original film took home a best picture Oscar), All the King’s Men has the pedigree of a prestige picture. Don’t be fooled. With a scenery-chewing performance from Sean Penn, an absence of political insight, and an overall lack of narrative cohesiveness, Men gives Oscar bait a bad name.”
Entertainment Weekly in its August 18, 2006 issue included All the King’s Men in its Oscar Preview and said the film was most likely to win an Oscar. The article concluded that the only reason for the film not to win an Oscar was its delayed opening (the film was originally to be opened in 2005). Richard Schickel (Time Magazine) liked the movie, arguing that “it is much more faithful to the tone of the novel” than the original.Kenneth Turan (Los Angeles Times) praised the film’s “undeniable moral seriousness” and the actors’ “exceptional ensemble work.”
He argued that Zaillian’s script and direction “expertly extracted the core of this greatest of American political novels, a work that is both of its time and outside it.” AO Scott (New York Times) expressed disappointment with the film: “Nothing in the picture works.
