Like Mr. DeBow at Southern Appeal, I just learned about the plans for the new remake of All The King's Men. My prejudicial guess is that Anthony Hopkins will be a fabulous Judge Irwin and Mark Ruffalo a fabulous Adam Stanton, and that Jude Law and Kate Winslet will be good but not great as Jack Burden and Anne Stanton. I am very dubious of Sean Penn.
I must admit that I'm not a fan of Jude Law's acting. Mark Ruffalo is one of a handful of extremely talented actors who can make any role come alive. As far as Sean Penn, I don't think that Mr. Baude has any real reason to be dubious. I call his attention to exhibit 1: Before Night Falls as proof that Penn belongs in that same handful as Ruffalo. Being able to make your cameo one of the shining spots of a film is a very rare skill.
I also have some hope concerning the casting of All the King's Men because of the potential on screen chemistry. While Ruffalo is really the only reason I enjoyed Eternal Sunshine on a Spotless Mind, there was
I think this
UPDATE: Will Baude, in email, alerts me to the failing of my movie recollection. Of course, there was not on-screen chemistry between Ruffalo and Winslet in any movie. I was thinking of the scene between Ruffalo and Kirsten Dunst when they spent an evening together with Jim Carrey (Joel). I've changed my recommendation accordingly.
