All The King's Men (2006)

 

All The King's Men - 2006

Coming up next is 2006's "All The King's Men".  It's the story of Governor Willie Stark of Louisiana.  We trace his story of his humble origins to his grasp on the highest office in the state.

The film's cast includes Sean Penn, Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins, Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Clarkson, James Gandolfini, Jackie Earle Haley, Kathy Baker, Talia Balsam, and Eileen Ryan.

In the state of Louisiana, Willie Stark is on the rise.  He runs for the office of governor on the platform of helping everyone in the state, and not just the rich people.  "The only person who will help is a hick is another hick," says Willie to enthusiastic crowds.  He's elected to the governorship, yet he uses his position for his own gain.

Helping him on the path to the governor's office is journalist Jack Burden.  Willie has chosen Jack because of his political connections and his knowledge of the inner workings of Louisiana politics.

These connections include Judge Irwin, Jack's godfather and former state attorney general, who has a good deal of influence in various state offices.

They also include Anne and Adam Stanton, the children of a former Louisiana governor and Jack's childhood friends.  Jack and Anne even had a bit of a romance going for a time.

Eventually, Willie is murdered because of the way he used people and the way he used his office, thus bringing to an end a very controversial time in the governor's office.  

NOTE: This is not a film I enjoy watching for the storyline.  I feel it's very long and drawn out, way more than it needs to be.  But, as I've said before, a good blog posts the good along with the bad.  There is some good here, as we'll see.  Below, I'll be posting some of my favorite scenes in the film.  They are very beautifully and creatively shot.

One of the scenes that I think is shot beautifully is the home of Judge Irwin.  Here, he hosts a luncheon for Jack and a few guests.  He also shows off a pre-gunpowder kind of a weapon that shocks the unsuspecting guests.

The scenes of Judge Irwin's funeral, shot under a black sky with a mournful rain falling, are also very well done.

I also like the scenes of the Stanton home.  These were the scenes of some very happy childhood memories for Jack, along with Anne and Adam.  The house was abandoned as the years went by, and Anne only returns every once in a while so she can light a fire to dry the place out.

Another particular scene I like occurs when Jack goes to visit the sister of a man who committed suicide many years earlier (played here by Sean Penn's mother, Eileen Ryan).  Miss Lily Littlepaugh utters a line that never fails to bring a smile to my face: "I wanted him buried in the good part of the cemetery.  Not in the back with all the sinners."

A favorite character of mine is Sadie Burke, a member of Willie Stark's staff and also his mistress.  When she finds out that he is two-timing her with a much younger ice skater, Sadie mutters bitterly, "The world is full of sluts on skates."

I'll finish up with a quote by Jack.  "You only get a couple of moments that determine your life.  Sometimes only one.  And then it's gone.  Forever."

Cast rundown:

   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

   Eileen Ryan...........................................Lily Littlepaugh

And that's it for All The King's Men.  Despite it's mega-star power, the film did very poorly at the box office.  It was also given negative reviews by critics.  When the film was first advertised, it was generating some serious Oscar buzz, however, that faded once it opened.  Among the filming locations was Albania Plantation in Louisiana.

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TV Tuesday: Mrs. 'Arris Goes To Paris (1992)

 

Mrs. 'Arris Goes To Paris - 1992

Coming up on this episode of TV Tuesday is our first TV movie.  1992's "Mrs. 'Arris Goes To Paris" tells the story of a char woman from London who goes to Paris in order to buy a Dior dress.  While in the French capital, she transforms the lives of all she meets.

The film's cast includes Angela Lansbury, Diana Rigg, Lothaire Bluteau, John Savident, Lila Kaye, Tamara Gorski, Omar Sharif, Barbara Barnes, and Mel Martin.

Mrs. Ada Harris is a happy and good-natured char woman who works in London at the residence of Lord and Lady Dant.

At the Dant residence, Mrs. Harris finds an invitation to the coronation ball for Queen Elizabeth II.  Then she sees something that truly takes her breath away.

Lady Dant has set out two beautiful gowns created by Dior.  Mrs. Harris helps her to make up her mind which to wear for the event at Buckingham Palace.  Right then and there, Mrs. Harris decides to have one for herself or die in the attempt.

She scrimps and saves, working extra jobs to make the huge sum that is required to purchase a dress from the famous fashion house.

Finally, a reward for finding a diamond pin is given to her, and it's just the amount she needs so that she can set off on her journey to Paris.

On the day of her departure, her friend and neighbor Mrs. Butterfield doesn't want her to go, saying that they don't speak English in Paris and that they eat snails!  Mrs. Harris is firm in her resolve.  "It's taken three long years of my life to get that money, and I'm not going to let a little thing like eating snails stop me now," she says.

She arrives in Paris and is able to see all the sights as she rides around in a taxi.

She's a bit nervous as she arrives at "Dior's dress shop".  However, she strolls in confidently like she owns the place.

Mrs. Harris is puzzled by the fact that there are no dresses in this "dress shop".  Madame Colbert, a director at Dior, tells her that they are shown by invitation only.  She takes a liking to Mrs. Harris and passes her an invitation for later that afternoon.

At the showing in the afternoon, some people are not at all thrilled that an  ordinary Englishwoman is among the guests.

Mrs. Harris is just thrilled to be there.  She curtsies to a visiting Princess Margaret, and she even makes a new friend.  The man sitting next to her finds himself completely charmed by this lovable English lady.

He even becomes her champion when a loud, obnoxious American lady is furious at having to sit next to Mrs. Harris.

The fashion show completely captures Mrs. Harris's attentions.  She seems to be in love with each and every one of the gowns on offer.

She makes her choice.  It is Number 89, Temptation, modeled by the lovely Natasha.  The two become very friendly.

Mrs. Harris's stay in Paris is somewhat longer than she anticipated.  She uses her time in extraordinary ways.  First, she gets Natasha and a young man from the Dior account's department together.  Without her intervention, the two probably would never have become involved.

She becomes very good friends with the man who sat next to her at the Dior showing.  It turns out that he is the Marquis Hippolite de Chassagne, a minister in the government.

Mrs. Harris helps reunite him with his estranged daughter and granddaughter.  Through teary eyes, she watches the happy reunion from behind a tree.

Mrs. Harris helps Madame Colbert as well.  She feels her husband was forgotten by his country after the war, and Mrs. Harris finds a way to have the government honor his memory.  Madame Colbert is completely overcome with joy.

Things aren't going well for her, though.  Forces have conspired to find a way to make sure that she doesn't get her dress.  She goes out on her own and has a good cry, thinking her efforts were in vain.

However, the friends she made in Paris come to her aid, and Mrs. Harris gets the dress she so desired.  Back in London, she hangs it up and admires it.

As she lovingly touches the material, Mrs. Harris thinks back to her time in Paris  and a party that everyone gave for her for bringing such happiness to their lives.  It's a memory she will treasure forever.

Cast rundown:

   Angela Lansbury...................................Mrs. Ada Harris

   Diana Rigg...........................................Madame Colbert

   Lothaire Bluteau...................................Andre

   John Savident......................................Monsieur Armont

   Lila Kaye..............................................Vi Butterfield

   Tamara Gorski......................................Natasha

   Omar Sharif.........................................Marquis Hippolite de Chassagne

   Barbara Barnes.....................................Madame Crockett

   Mel Martin...........................................Lady Dant

And that's it for Mrs. 'Arris Goes To Paris.  This film is based on a series of books by Paul Gallico.  Not only does Mrs. 'Arris go to Paris, she also goes to New York, Parliament, and Moscow.

This film is available for you to watch in its entirety here.  It's absolutely delightful.

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