I found this movie very interesting in its adaptation of the novel, choosing another topic to enlighten than the one chosen in the 1949 movie. First of all, unlike what is said by several people, I did not feel the "rise and fall" of a politician in this movie. I did not sense a truly hearted and people loving politician becoming corrupted by exercising power. I rather felt a complex character, being both deeply against the upper class and ambitious for itself. The core soul of this story seems to be the moment he discovers that he has been manipulated by the lobbyists in this campaign, not aiming not win, and when he made this marvelous speech denouncing the manipulation. He definitely ran into a populist style which he might have believed in somehow, but was mainly a political strategy. He is human, dual and complex. Corruption might have been always in his veins, even before becoming governor. But the main character is not Willie, it is that young upper class journalist who believes in his mentor and throw out its bounds to his family and class, in order to get free and denounces a dying southern aristocratic society. Just a further word: the last shot of the movie is wonderful. I do not say more as it would be a spoiler.
Review of All the King's Men
