All The King’s Men
By John Sheridan, Blockbuster.co.uk

Sean Penn , Jude Law and Anthony Hopkins star in this tense political drama based on Robert Penn Warren’s 1946 Pulitzer prize winning novel. All the King’s Men was inspired by the notorious Louisiana Governor Huey Long who rose from poverty to political office to become one of the most controversial and influencial candidates for President of the United States.

“They fooled you 1,000 times, just like they fooled me. But this time, I'll fool somebody. I'll stay in this race. I'm on my own and out for blood. Listen to me, you hicks! Lift up your eyes and look at God's blessed and unfly-blown truth. This is the truth! You're a hick. Nobody ever helped a hick but a hick himself. Listen to me, listen to me! They were going to use me to split the vote. But I'm standing here now on my hind legs. Even a dog can learn to do that. Are you standing on your hind legs? Have you learned that yet? Here it is, you hicks! Nail up anybody who stands in your way. Nail up Joe Harrison! Nail up McMurphy! If they don't deliver, give me the hammer and I'll do it. I want his throat cut from ear to ear.”

All The King’s Men features Sean Penn in the film’s lead as Huey Long, an idealistic candidate for mayor, who is used by the corrupt political establishment, encouraging him to run for office, to split the working man’s vote so that their preferred candidate can get into office. Penn’s friend Jude Law plays Jack Burdon, a political reporter who not only narrates the film but also informs Long of how he has been tricked. Long takes this on board, changing tactics and becomes an angry, passionate spokesperson for the poor and disenfranchised, revealing how the rich have played them for years, and in doing so, wins the office of State Governor of Louisiana by a landslide.

The film follows Huey Long’s progress from a man who has good intentions to make a difference for the poor, to someone who becomes just as dark and corrupt as the political class for which he detests so much. Following the election, Long employs Burdon to gather incriminating material about his opponents and plays on Burdon’s wealthy family connections in order to lean on those that oppose him and his policies.

Meanwhile, it is privately revealed that Long is having an affair with the wealthy sister ( Kate Winslet) of Burdon’s best friend ( Mark Ruffalo), something that Burdon finds it hard to deal with due to the fact he still has hidden feelings for her. Long leaves a wave of broken lives and destruction in his political wake.

When Jack Burdon’s adopted father (played by Anthony Hopkins), a state Judge, writes in a column, of his support for the impeachment of Huey Long; things Burdon finds himself in the middle between Long and his family; with Long using blackmail and pressure in order to get Burdon to dig up information on the old Judge and Burdon now unsure of his own morality.

Sean Penn is outstanding, delivering each and every line with the same passion and vigour that you would imagine coming from Huey Long, at its core, All The King’s Men is about the corrupting influence of power – how even the most well-intentioned could fall victim to its temptations. A story that it is as relevant now as when it was first written, gripping drama, well worth a watch.