Casualties of War (1989)

During the Vietnam War, a soldier finds himself the outsider of his own squad when they unnecessarily kidnap a female villager.

A horrific crime is given an upright, but a bit homespun treatment as a Hollywood melodrama; nevertheless, there are memorable moments and some excellent performances.

Halliwell*: "Simple minded, melodramatic account of a true incident."

Maltin**: "As the Voice of Reason, Fox is well cast, but his clean-cut decency gets to be a bit much; Penn and Thu Le...are more effective. For all its good intentions, film has a jumbled, detached feel to it..."

All the King's Men (2006)

In the 50's, in Louisiana, a smart populist, manipulative and wolf hick is elected governor with the support of the lower social classes and erects his own corrupt regime.

Great direction, visuals and performances add up to a good movie that still can't surpass Robert Rossen's 1949 classic adaptation of the same novel.

On rewatching: still a good movie - that could have been better, but Penn's excessive performance seems true, now that we have a similar person as US president.

Maltin**: "Penn's histrionics never ring true, and his talented costars are wasted in this disappointing production...Zaillian wrote the ineffectual screenplay."

The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)

The true story of a disillusioned military contractor employee and his drug pusher childhood friend who became walk-in spies for the Soviet Union.

An otherwise interesting story is treated mysteriously indifferent. It's not ever clear what the point's supposed to be.

On renewed viewing: Good performances, well-made, but one still wonders about the protagonists' (and the director's) motivations.

Halliwell (no star): "A true case is made to seem not merely impossible but uninteresting by flaccid cinematic treatment."

Maltin**1/2: "Much food for thought, but we never get to share Hutton's feelings, and that keeps this well-made film somewhat aloof. Standout: Penn's performance as a desperate, amoral, drugged-out kid."

Fair Game (2010)

CIA operative Valerie Plame discovers her identity is allegedly leaked by the government as payback for an op-ed article her husband wrote criticizing the Bush administration.

Effective political drama based on a true case manages to tell the story straight and fairly simple, although it does heroize the two leads a bit; Watts and Pean, however, are in top form.

Maltin***: "Intimate, propulsive drama...reveals how these events affected their lives and threatened their marriage. Engrossing and credible; an especially fine showcase for Watts."