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Sean Penn

Director, Actor

 
TapsTaps (1981)
Dir. Harold Becker
Feat. Sean Penn, Timothy Hutton, George C. Scott
A surprise box–office smash about a group of cadets who take over their military college, which is on the brink of being closed down. Inspired…
Fast Times at Ridgemont HighFast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) Aro Favourite
Dir. Amy Heckerling
Feat. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold
This early–80s teen pic survives a lot better than most, finding surprisingly subtle shades of the adolescent experience amid some frank…
Racing with the MoonRacing with the Moon (1984)
Dir. Richard Benjamin
Feat. Sean Penn, Elizabeth McGovern, Nicolas Cage
A well–observed and resonant drama, about the last few days of boyhood for a couple of inductees into the US Marines in 1942. The cast all…
Falcon and the SnowmanFalcon and the Snowman (1985)
Dir. John Schlesinger
Feat. Sean Penn, Timothy Hutton
A composed intellectual convinces his wayward friend to sell federal secrets to the Russians. Stunning political drama featuring a stand–out…
At Close RangeAt Close Range (1985)
Dir. James Foley
Feat. Sean Penn, Christopher Walken
Sean Penn plays a wayward youth who reunites with his gangland father (Christopher Walken) with violent consequences. Sordid yet solid drama.
Shanghai SurpriseShanghai Surprise (1986)
Dir. Jim Goddard
Feat. Sean Penn, Madonna, Paul Freeman
Universally panned adventure flick stars Madonna as a missionary (!) on the hunt for medicinal opium (!) and then–husband Penn plays the…
ColorsColors (1988)
Dir. Dennis Hopper
Feat. Sean Penn, Robert Duvall
A grim portrait of law enforcement. Mismatched police partners are assigned to the rife gang–related problems in South–Central L.A.
Judgement in BerlinJudgement in Berlin (1988)
Dir. Leo Penn
Feat. Martin Sheen, Sean Penn, Sam Wanamaker
Stolid courtroom drama about the trial of an man who hijacked an airplane in order to flee East Germany for the West, Martin Sheen plays the American…
Casualties of WarCasualties of War (1989)
Dir. Brian De Palma
Feat. Sean Penn, Michael J. Fox, John Leguizamo
A squad of soldiers become caught in the moral dilemma of wartime Vietnam. Platoon leader Sean Penn goes beyond the call of duty while Michael J.…
We're No AngelsWe're No Angels (1989)
Dir. Neil Jordan
Feat. Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Demi Moore
Robert De Niro and Sean Penn team up as a couple of escaped convicts who cross the border in clergical attire.
State of GraceState of Grace (1990) Recommended
Dir. Phil Joanou
Feat. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Ed Harris
Penn returns to his Irish mob roots in New York's Hell's Kitchen to find tenuous–at–best relations with the neighbouring Mafia. Oldman…
Indian Runner, TheIndian Runner, The (1991)
Dir. Sean Penn
Feat. David Morse, Viggo Mortensen, Dennis Hopper
Sean Penn's interesting directing debut is a sly throwback to '70s road movies, even using a Springsteen ditty as the basis for its plot.
Carlito's WayCarlito's Way (1993) Recommended
Dir. Brian De Palma
Feat. Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Viggo Mortensen
De Palma contains his usual showy excess and proves he can be a consummate storyteller with this captivating, multi–layered crime yarn. Al…
Crossing Guard, TheCrossing Guard, The (1995)
Dir. Sean Penn
Feat. Jack Nicholson, David Morse, Anjelica Huston
As writer/director, Sean Penn admirably mines similar ambiguous terrain of his acting turn in DEAD MAN WALKING. A compassionate interrogation of…
Dead Man WalkingDead Man Walking (1996) Aro Favourite
Dir. Tim Robbins
Feat. Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon
In a feat of rare ambition and integrity, actor Tim Robbins proves supremely adept behind the camera with this even–handed presentation of the…
Hugo PoolHugo Pool (1996)
Dir. Robert Downey Snr.
Feat. Alyssa Milano, Malcolm McDowell, Robert Downey Jnr.
Comedy of quirks with Alyssa Milano, here still battling TV child–stardom, playing a hapless pool–cleaner who maintains the backyard…
Game, TheGame, The (1997)
Dir. David Fincher
Feat. Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, Deborah Kara Unger
Tycoon–loner–who–has–everything Michael Douglas receives a birthday present with a difference – an elaborate 'game'…
U-TurnU-Turn (1997)
Dir. Oliver Stone
Feat. Sean Penn, Jennifer Lopez, Nick Nolte
The Drifter, Sean Penn, swerves into a small desert town for a round of duelling tangos with Femme Jennifer Lopez and local Kingpin Nick Nolte, while…
She's So LovelyShe's So Lovely (1997)
Dir. Nick Cassavetes
Feat. Robin Wright, Sean Penn, John Travolta
As a low–life couple whose romantic intensity borders on madness, married double–act Robin Wright and Sean Penn off–handedly…
Thin Red Line, TheThin Red Line, The (1998) Aro Favourite
Dir. Terrence Malick
Feat. Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, Elias Koteas
A studiously arthouse rendition of WWII, isolating a crucial battle of the Pacific campaign (Guadacanal) as a minutely observed microcosm of humanity…
HurlyburlyHurlyburly (1998)
Dir. Anthony Drazan
Feat. Sean Penn, Kevin Spacey, Chazz Palminteri
Demoralising 'character study' of four middle–aged film industry parasites who hang out and pontificate the meaning of their pathetic lives…
Sweet and LowdownSweet and Lowdown (1999) Recommended
Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Sean Penn, Samantha Morton, Uma Thurman
Possibly Woody Allen's most critically appreciated film since BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, this mock–u–drama concerns the life, loves and music…
Up at the VillaUp at the Villa (1999)
Dir. Philip Haas
Feat. Sean Penn, Kristin Scott Thomas, Anne Bancroft
Adrift in pre–fascist 1930s Italy, widowed Englishwoman Kirsten Scott Thomas lives on the generosity of her well–heeled peers before…
Pledge, ThePledge, The (2000) Recommended
Dir. Sean Penn
Feat. Jack Nicholson, Robin Wright, Helen Mirren
Sean Penn as director's pledge to the stuff of raw drama pays off with a thriller/parable centred round a powerhouse turn from Jack Nicholson. As…
Before Night FallsBefore Night Falls (2000) Recommended
Dir. Julian Schnabel
Feat. Javier Bardem, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp
The life and times of Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas (Javier Bardem) told as a florid visual collage – dream, memory and history merging on the…
Weight of Water, TheWeight of Water, The (2000)
Dir. Kathryn Bigelow
Feat. Elizabeth Hurley, Catherine McCormack, Sean Penn
Time–twist thriller, that intercuts a gothic murder–mystery of the late 19th century with present–day marital intrigue. Set on…
I Am SamI Am Sam (2002)
Dir. Jesse Nelson
Feat. Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianne Wiest
High–calibre acting from Sean Penn, as a retarded man fighting to retain custody of his 8–year old daughter, distinguishes this intense…
11'09'0111'09'01 (September 11) (2002) Recommended
Dir. Ken Loach, Claude Lelouch, Sean Penn
Feat. Ernest Borgnine
A consistently intriguing omnibus of 11 short films made by various top directors about the catastrophic events of September 11, 2001 in New York –…
Mystic RiverMystic River (2003) Recommended
Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon
Dignified crime thriller shot in unfussy style by old pro Clint Eastwood, this is less thrilling than a reliable entertainment, with the emotional…
21 Grams21 Grams (2003)
Dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Feat. Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Benicio Del Toro
For his English–language debut, the celebrated Mexican director of AMORES PERROS weighs in with an unconventional, soul–baring drama that…

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