Loosely based on the life of the legendary governor of Louisiana, Huey Long, this is the story of a Southern populist politician, Willy Stark (Sean Penn), and his rise from poverty to power while fighting corruption and with overriding concern for the common man.
Despite the poverty of rural Louisiana. Willy Stark, a farmer's (Frederic F. Forrest) son, and all eight of his siblings were college educated. His first public office was that of treasurer of Mason City where he battled against kickbacks from a construction company bidding on a new schoolhouse. His stance made him a pariah and he vowed to leave politics behind and continue his job as a door-to-door salesman. But when three children die in an accident at the schoolhouse because a fire escape collapsed during a routine fire drill, Stark's cautions were finally recognized.
At the urging of lobbyist Tiny Duffy (James Gandolfini), Stark is soon running for governor of Louisiana but while campaigning, he realizes that he's just been set up by Duffy to split the cracker vote so another candidate can win handily. From that moment on, Stark makes a commitment to step up his campaign and win against the upper class.
The story is mostly told from the viewpoint of Jack Burden (Jude Law), a journalist from an aristocratic family. Jack began covering Stark's campaign but once Stark became governor, Jack went to work for him.
When the influential Judge Irwin (Anthony Hopkins) supports a group of politicians in their request of impeachment, Stark tells Jack to find some dirt in the life of Irwin -- a man who was a father figure to Jack. What follows is the story of deceit exposed with tragic effects for several involved.
Also in the superb cast are Kate Winslet and Mark Ruffalo as siblings Anne and Adam Stanton, children of a now deceased governor, niece and nephew of Judge Irwin, and best childhood friends of Jack Burden; Patricia Clarkson as Stark's jealous mistress Sadie Burke; Jackie Earle Haley as Stark's friend and bodyguard Sugar Boy; Kathy Baker as Jack's mother; and Talia Balsam as Stark's wife.
T Bone Pickens served as the executive music producer so the soundtrack is filled with fabulous Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed. Lightning Hopkins, Hank Williams, Keb' Mo', and T Bone music plus a smattering of Mozart, Beethoven and others.From a novel by Robert Penn Warren. Screenplay and directed by Steven Zaillian.
Run time: 2 hours, 8 minutes
Rated PG-13 for an intense sequence of violence, sexual content and partial nudity.
My personal rating: A
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