First of all I will say that if you must see this film, stay for the last five minutes. For only in the last moments of the film does Zaillian show any skill or style as a director. He may have written the film closer to the novel, but his narrative is never-the-less jumbled and splotchy. The man randomly throws flashbacks in at places and does not indicate they are flashbacks. The film is poorly edited and the random use of Jude Law's voice-over narration is offensive. These problems are compounded by lack-luster performances. Sure Sean Penn acts, but he is about the only one, and his performance certainly isn't noteworthy. He brings nothing more to the character of Stark than you would demand as minimum requirements. Nothing can be said for Jude Law, who more or less sits back and watches the film with the rest of us. Winslet and Ruffalo were wasted, and their casting was arbitrary to say the least. Surprsingly, Gandolfini puts in a noteworthy turn. All said this movie falls flat, it drags, it loses focus, and it feels half-hearted at best. This movie did not need a remake, and certainly not a half-ass one.
Review of All the King's Men
