All the King's Men
Sony Pictures Releasing | Release Date: September 22, 2006
5.6
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Mixed or average reviews based on 61 Ratings
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Mixed:
15
Negative:
18
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
9
DaveW.Jan 7, 2007
I think too many reviewers are too hung up on the previous movie instead of letting this one speak for itself. I found Penn's performance outstanding and the dialogue mesmerizing. Evidently the language was too "literary" for some, but I think too many reviewers are too hung up on the previous movie instead of letting this one speak for itself. I found Penn's performance outstanding and the dialogue mesmerizing. Evidently the language was too "literary" for some, but for me it was a bracing antidote to the understated attempts at hipness that clog the film output these days. One of the best of the year.… Expand
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10
PJOct 1, 2006
Best film I've seen this year.
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9
RobertxxxOct 5, 2006
I
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8
BradC.Sep 23, 2006
I found this surprisingly good. It is a deep thinking film, not for everyone. However, what it does offer is a lot to think and discuss which is far better than much of the junk that Hollywood puts out.
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7
ColinSep 22, 2006
I think the critics are being overly tough. Is it flawed? Yes? Does it favor interpesonal dynamics over political science. Absolutely. Does it make a hyperspace leap from Willie's idealistic ascendance to his corruption with no I think the critics are being overly tough. Is it flawed? Yes? Does it favor interpesonal dynamics over political science. Absolutely. Does it make a hyperspace leap from Willie's idealistic ascendance to his corruption with no intervening period of sober governance? Yup. Still, there's a lot to chew on here. Good movie to take your teenager to.… Expand
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8
CaryK.Sep 24, 2006
This film is better than it is being credited for - very well acted - more like a European film, creating moods and intentionally ponderous - not for all - but much better done than is often cited especially by the jaded critics - what elseThis film is better than it is being credited for - very well acted - more like a European film, creating moods and intentionally ponderous - not for all - but much better done than is often cited especially by the jaded critics - what else is new? They missed the point… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
JohnP.Sep 24, 2006
Sean Penn is great as usual in this somewhat laborious and occassionally confusing story of the fascinating polictical career of Huey Long.
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8
ACMESep 23, 2006
I loved seeing the film--and think it will be a great addition to my DVD collection to help establish setting and so on for future AP English classes. The acting was powerful: no miscasting, lots of nuances from Jude Law, Sean Penn, and the I loved seeing the film--and think it will be a great addition to my DVD collection to help establish setting and so on for future AP English classes. The acting was powerful: no miscasting, lots of nuances from Jude Law, Sean Penn, and the rest. I saw reviews busting on Law for being so beautiful--a tragedy we share, of course--but honestly, I thought he did well at getting to the heart of Jack. It really helped me to see the locations where they filmed: the statehouse, Burden's Landing, Mason City, and more. The script keeps lots of the dialogue, images, and the looping storytelling from the text I understand the compressions they needed to do--and they generally worked. My one quibble is the ending-- one) Rio just stopped the credits as they started rolling--and then the Muzak was playing "Go back, Jack, and do it again." which was both weird and strangely appropriate. and two) I love the book because it tells a tale of redemption, of making things right, of reconciliation--I think the film hints at it, but doesn't quite get there.… Expand
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8
AlanN.Dec 10, 2007
I agree with Dave W's comment that too many critics were "hung up" on the original 1940's movie. I haven't seen the original, nor read the book that inspired both pictures, but I thoroughly enjoyed this movie in its own right. I agree with Dave W's comment that too many critics were "hung up" on the original 1940's movie. I haven't seen the original, nor read the book that inspired both pictures, but I thoroughly enjoyed this movie in its own right. It's not "brain in the fridge" stuff, far from it and all the better for that fact. Sometimes a movie should demand something from the audience and if you take the time to immerse yourself in this one, you'll be rewarded with some fine acting performances and storytelling. Recommended.… Expand
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10
SeanF.Jan 27, 2007
This is one of the all time greatest movies I've seen. The only unfortunate thing is that it has ruined my opinion of critics for eternity. Some of the actors didn't pull off being Southerners very well, but that was the only flaw This is one of the all time greatest movies I've seen. The only unfortunate thing is that it has ruined my opinion of critics for eternity. Some of the actors didn't pull off being Southerners very well, but that was the only flaw I observed watching this film. A great depiction of a populist's rise to power, and the inevitable coming together of the wealthy and powerful to stop him at any cost.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
ChadS.May 26, 2007
All the King's Men is a phenomenal movie, end of story. It's not action packed or full of comedy, but it is a very serious and well done film, which is something most teens don't enjoy watching these days. It stars Sean Penn, All the King's Men is a phenomenal movie, end of story. It's not action packed or full of comedy, but it is a very serious and well done film, which is something most teens don't enjoy watching these days. It stars Sean Penn, Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins, and Kate Winslet, and all of them do an extremely good job, especially Sean Penn as Willie Starks, the mayor. The story is about one man's rise to being the mayor of Louisiana and giving the people what they need, new roads, bridges, schools etc... and not allowing the large companies to steal all their money. The plot and characters are well thought out, and its no wonder the book won the national Pulitzer prize. The directing is the best i have ever seen, and I've been watching a TON of movies lately, but this one beats them all. Everything about All the King's Men is good, however i can't say that many teenagers will like it since it isn't a horror movie, or action flick, or comedy, but if you are looking for a serious film then this is perfect for you. On a scale of one to ten, five being average, All the King's Men gets a 9.25.… Expand
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8
KenRFeb 4, 2021
All The Kings Men – All Class Note: this is for the original 1949 production:
When the name Robert Rossen appears associated with a film you can rest assured it will have more than a decent level of professional interest and integrity. ThisAll The Kings Men – All Class Note: this is for the original 1949 production:
When the name Robert Rossen appears associated with a film you can rest assured it will have more than a decent level of professional interest and integrity. This is no exception; winner of Three Academy Awards of its year, this unusual movie follows the career of a man from the sticks, a hick, destined to make his mark on the world of power politics. Crawford is a powerhouse as Willie Stark, backwoods lawyer on a steamroller trail to the front line – a man you stand in the way of at your peril. Willie has honourable intentions of correcting wrongs but can he hold fast to the challenge?

A strong cast under the guidance of Rossen turn in bravura performances, with Mercedes Cambridge bringing remarkable touches to this work – and, it’s all captured on film by master cinematographer Burnett Guffey (The Harder They Fall ’56) from Robert Penn Warrens Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. This is about as good as this genre of film-making gets as we follow the vast assortment of fascinating characters through twisted trials and tribulations – on the way to absolute power (and we know what they say about ‘absolute’ power!) Expect one hard-hitting situation following another as the road to the top casts aside both good and bad as they struggle to survive in Willies inside-out world. Not to be missed by all lovers of fine Noir dramas. The Columbia DVD release is from a clear negative transfer.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
7
DawdlingPoetNov 26, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. While some scenes are relatively emotional and stirring (think public speeches and the like), others are much more subtle and quiet, thus I found it a bit hard to decide on one genre to categorise this under but I suppose its mainly a political drama, only the main characters are very much members of the local community and aren't living in fancy houses with security or anything like that. I think it'd be relatively fair to say that while its a drama, its not especially overly dramatic, for the most part. Themes covered include betrayal, the pursuit of power and corruption.

The film is very much dialogue heavy, as I'd call it and the characters all have relatively heavy (to my ears certainly) southern American accents, which may or may not bother you, as a viewer. I reckon I understood the majority of what was said, although it does help to concentrate on it a fair bit to fully follow the plot (I hope this isn't taken in a derrogatory way as I honestly don't mean it like that - no doubt most Americans would be a bit baffled by some of my Scots slang talk but I know that some people can have issues with following strong, thick foreign accents).

It had a good use of orchestral music from time to time, which helped to make the relevant scenes seem muh more spooky and sinister than they presumably would have appeared otherwise. A fair amount of scenes are set at night, so their automatically quite creepy in tone and the music adds well to this. This film features quite an impressive cast, including Sean Penn in the leading role as Willie Stark. He comes across as quite wise, or so he certainly believes himself to be anyway, a fairly pessimistic character but someone with an urge to change things, despite his incapabilities, of which there are a few. He appears quite cocky and self assured, although others may not always agree. Other cast members include Jude Law as Jack Burden, Kate Winslet as Anne Stanton, Mark Ruffalo and Adam Stanton, the late James Gandolfini as Tiny Duffy and Anthony Hopkins as Judge Irwin (as an aside, I can't say I ever thought I'd see a Welsh man playing a Southern American judge but hey, why not?). I'm relatively keen on Jude Law as an actor and him and Sean Penn seemed to do quite well in their roles, although im unsure if anyone else could be regarded as giving especially remarkable performances, certainly when you bare their other (previous) work in mind. Sean Penns performance was the most memorable overall I reckon, although he's played similar roles in other films I believe.

Content wise, this film features brief partial nudity (nothing graphic or extreme - a couple of dancers showing cleavage and that sort of thing on ocassion), there is some moderate violence, a few instances of racially offensive language used and some mild profanities and otherwise, all I can think to mention is that a few characters are shown smoking and drinking, which some parents may not like their younger children to see. The film carries a 12 rating to reflect this.

I felt that the film was interesting, in painting a picture of what the culture was like (in terms of racism and other local issues) in the 'deep South' in America at the time its set (its based on a 1946 award winning novel) - its mildly thought provoking and the characters interested me enough to keep watching it but I wouldn't say it was especially memorable or featured anything that would make me keen to watch it again or anything like that. Its a fairly decent film - the speeches are spoken pretty convincingly by Penn, so I thought but it is a bit slow, in terms of the general plot and there isn't a great deal of action - chases/explosions or anything like that, so if thats what your into then I'd look elsewhere. It wasn't one of the more dull films I've ever seen but it wasn't brilliant either, so I'll hesitatingly opt for the 4 star rating option, on the basis that it was quite watchable and mildly thought provoking, with good use of music but it won't be to everyones tastes. It is also both rather dour and idealistic at certain points.

Personally I enjoyed it but I realise it won't appeal to everyone. If your not keen on dialogue heavy films which have little in the way of visual effects and a slow(ish) plot then this will likely bore you, so it wouldn't be worth seeing but I felt it was an interesting story overall, it was relatively thought provoking, it did well at portraying the culture/society in the area at the time its set in (the 1950s) and it features a decent cast.… Expand
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