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Title: Hopelessly pretentious and muddled filmisation of the famous 1946 novel
Review: "All the King's Men" is a pointless filmisation of Robert Penn Warren's 1946 novel, which had already been brought to the screen to great effect by Robert Rossen in 1949 - THAT version garnered a Best Picture Oscar.The story of a Louisiana Governor (played by Sean Penn) who will stop at nothing to maintain power is pretty tame by today's standards.The script and direction by writer/director Steven Zaillian are hopelessly muddled and pretentious - even the big, emotional moments fizzle. Overlong and overwrought - an excellent cast is wasted.
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