Posted on 09/18/2006 1:00:06 PM PDT by SmithL
The politically passionate Sean Penn has no interest in running for office, yet he's a potent demagogue on the big screen.
In a new adaptation of Robert Penn Warren's novel "All the King's Men," Penn stars as Willie Stark, a firebrand inspired by Depression era populist Huey Long, the slain Louisiana governor and U.S. senator.
With a wild bush of hair, an at times indecipherable Southern drawl and the flailing arms and bellow of a fire-and-brimstone preacher, Penn imbues Stark with fearsome energy that's surprising in an actor better known as a follower of the Robert De Niro school of quiet menace.
"At first, the most intimidating part of it was probably the size of the character, not just physically, but in other ways. Vocally," Penn said in an interview with The Associated Press at the Toronto International Film Festival, where "All the King's Men" premiered in advance of its theatrical debut Friday.
Penn, 46, studied footage of Long. He traveled Louisiana to take in the bridges, roads and other public works Long built. He talked with people, who still recall Long as a Robin Hood taking back from the rich and redistributing to the poor. He observed evangelical clergy in Long's old haunts to duplicate their cadence.
And he sampled the cuisine.
"Eating a lot of Louisiana food, bit by bit, getting some of the physical size to it," Penn said. "Somewhere about the day before we started shooting, I felt ready to go. It's pretty much like that for me. Terrified until then."
While Penn has bitterly criticized President Bush, toured Iraq to observe the war there and ...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Praise the Lord!
Run for office? Mr. Penn can't spell "cat."
Saw him on Larry King the other night.
He's as big of an idiot as I originally thought.
Maybe even more.
I too, have no interest in running for office. Where's my article?
ROTFLMAO!
I'm deeply saddened.
From the San Francisco Gate. Lovely. Surprisingly enough, I have no intentions of voting for anyone who barely passed high school.
This will have to end up as one of those "Bottom of the News" headlines on "Best of the Web." Really, does ANYONE have any interest in this moron running for office?
Hey Sean, neither am I! In other words, WHO CARES!!
The reviews of his new movie have been rotten, and that's from a very friendly press.
Nah, he's not out of touch with reality.
Jeeez, who would have thought that Penn when spelled out actually spelled pu**y.
Just like all BIG MOUTH RICH Hollywood Dims, their words flow easily but their actions STOP at the movie industry $ (dont want to alienate any viewers would we now).
Big mister Sean aint got the "REAL" balz to run and we all know it, Dem and Rep alike...
Love him or Hate them Jesse V and Arnie show the Dims how it's REALITY Done!
Posted on 09/18/2006 1:00:06 PM PDT by SmithL
The politically passionate dfwgator has no interest in running for office, yet he's a potent demagogue on Free Republic, . . .
Thank you. :)
Sean Penn has sadly joined Al Pacino in the ranks of formerly talented actors who now believe that overacting is the new acting.
He'd make a great president!.....Hello - I'm Sam.
But I had the picture ready for his campaign poster.
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