Plot
Based on the Robert Penn Warren novel. The life of populist Southerner Willie Stark, a political creature loosely based on Governor Huey Long of Louisiana.
Release Year: 2006
Rating: 6.0/10 (14,336 voted)
Critic's Score: 37/100
Director:
Steven Zaillian
Stars: Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet
Storyline In the 50's, in Louisiana, the smart populist, manipulative and wolf hick Willie Stark is elected governor with the support of the lower social classes. He joins a team composed of his bodyguard and friend Sugar Boy; the journalist from an aristocratic family Jack Burden; the lobbyist Tiny Duffy; and his mistress Sadie Burke, to face the opposition of the upper classes. When the influent Judge Irwin supports a group of politicians in their request of impeachment, Stark assigns Jack to find some dirtiness along the life of Irwin, leading to a tragedy in the end.
Writers: Steven Zaillian, Robert Penn Warren
Cast: Sean Penn
-
Willie Stark
Jude Law
-
Jack Burden
Anthony Hopkins
-
Judge Irwin
Kate Winslet
-
Anne Stanton
Mark Ruffalo
-
Adam Stanton
Patricia Clarkson
-
Sadie Burke
James Gandolfini
-
Tiny Duffy
Jackie Earle Haley
-
Sugar Boy
Kathy Baker
-
Mrs. Burden
Talia Balsam
-
Lucy Stark
Travis Champagne
-
Tom Stark
(as Travis M. Champagne)
Frederic Forrest
-
Willie's Father
(as Frederic F. Forrest)
Paul Desmond
-
Slade
Kevin Dunn
-
Alex
Thomas McCarthy
-
Editor
(as Tom McCarthy)
Taglines:
Some people will do anything to gain power. Some will do anything to keep it.
Filming Locations: Albania Plantation - 1842 LA 182 E., Jeanerette, Louisiana, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $55,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $3,672,366
(USA)
(24 September 2006)
(1514 Screens)
Gross: $7,221,458
(USA)
(15 October 2006)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The film was a commercial failure, despite its strong cast, direction, and production team. Few critics endorsed it, despite garnering strong Oscar buzz before its initial opening.
Goofs:
Continuity:
The working grandfather clock (pendulum audible) stays fixed at 4:10 PM throughout a five minute scene.
Quotes:
[repeated line]
Willie Stark:
Nail 'em up!
User Review
Decide for yourself (I question the sincerity of IMDb votes to date)
Rating: 7/10
I saw this film at the New Orleans premiere and found it to be an
interesting spectacle that I largely enjoyed watching. I'm writing to
let the public know that the numbers look strange at this point
(September 17, 2006). Why? Nearly 20% of the votes have been in the 1-3
range (which would rate this film to be in the ranks of the worst low
budget films ever made). One voter has commented that he did not see
the film, but hates Sean Penn's politics so he won't see it and will
give the film a 1 just to spite Penn. At the same time, nearly half of
the votes give the film a perfect 10. I don't think that the polarized
ratings to date reflect careful attempts to rate the film. Perhaps
that's often the case with IMDb. I suggest taking them with a grain of
salt for the time being and deciding for yourself if you are interested
in the film.
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