Posted on 09/12/2006 10:01:19 AM PDT by MikeA
NEW YORK Sparks usually fly, from one quarter or another, when actor Sean Penn meets the press, and it happened again this week at a news conference for the Toronto International Film Festival. Chances were greater there as he was touting a long-expected political drama screened there, the re-make of "All the King's Men."
Among the highlights on Sunday, Penn asked photographers to stop snapping so he could hear questions, and he called President Bush "a Beelzebub -- and a dumb one."
Penn stars in the new movie as a Huey Long-type populist politician in Louisiana, with Jude Law playing a crucial role as his friend, an alcoholic reporter.
"One could make the argument that George Bush is a good politician," Penn said at one point, seemingly offering praise. Then he added: "I think the issue is how you define politician. Once upon a time, politics was the organization of things to benefit the people."
An early review this week by E&P's VNU sibling, The Hollywood Reporter, hailed Penn's "charismatic" performance, but added that the movie "doesn't seem to know how to contain it. Writer-director Steven Zaillian's questionable solution is to fit this rambunctious portrait of unruly Southern politics in a monumental frame where Southern Gothic meets Leni Riefenstahl." Variety panned it as "overstuffed."
At the press conference, a reporter returned to the notion of Bush as a good politician, and Penn said the definition has changed -- much as it has for "good actor" which now means, he said, "contest winner" (he is an Academy Award winner himself).
"So that's the level of politician I think he's good at," Penn said. "Out of context, he's Beelzebub -- and a dumb one."
Another query: Could he name a good politician? Penn said he wasn't about to "rattle off the cliches....It should be obvious, those people who sacrificed of their talents and their commitment to their country or their people . . . we know who they are and they're not currently in the White House."
Penn has written several freelance articles for the San Francisco Chronicle in recent years.
Wow, a film version of one of my favorite novels, and dufus just drove off a paying customer.
Whatever floats your boat sean
Beezelbub was the Lord of the Flies...and we *all*
know wahat President was the Lord of the Fly...and
what *party* is reminicient of the *book* Lord of
the Flies...And it ain't Busgh and the GOP, you
filthy little worthless fruitfly Penn..go rent
another rubber boat and paddle your way back up
that creek you like to feed from.
You nothing.
He's about as smart as the Dixie Chicks.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High... the last time I paid to see Sean Penn in a film.
Acknowledged by whom? Sean Penn and his coterie of Hollywood nitwits and sycophants, along with some in the Clown Car News Media? I'm guessing Bin Penn got on to Wikipedia and added that laughable claim himself.
LOL!!
It worked for Madonna.
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!
A cream bagel. Eeewwwwwwww...
Someone said the Europeans like believing in the Devil, but struggle with the idea of God, while Americans like believing in God, but struggle with the idea of the Devil....
Sean....... Bush has been Elected TWICE.
You-zero.
Guess what Sean pin-head, I am not giving you any more of my money. I have elected to not watch your movies.
Hey Sean, just grab yourself an 8-ball and a couple of hookers.
Life imitates Spiccoli.
I thought war was politics by other means. Guess it was organizing things to benefit people. Whaddo I know.
That's probably because Europeans have so fully given in to the devil that it's easier for them to believe in the devil than in God. You put your faith where most of your experience lies.
"And I still can't believe the pretty girl from Princess Bride married this kook."
Their mawwage is based on wuv, twue wuv.
You forgot DOPER. "red diaper DOPER baby"!
Oh, God, those shoes are classy, no?
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