The Penn Method

Penn sees not a conspiracy but a fraternity between the minds that produce these films and those that gave us Gulf War II: Back to Iraq. Both, he says, are "blatant in their pursuit of dummifying the American public." He compares the Administration's Iraq ramp-up to a Hollywood preproduction meeting: "A good director tells you that you're going in to remap the Middle East. A bad director tells you you're going in for weapons that don't exist." And he is happy to keep speaking up — and listening. "I've had dialogue with Dennis Kucinich, with a lot of people in the military, in intelligence, in the FBI. Some of them I sought out, some sought me out. People in the Senate; Governors. I felt like I had a lot of support. The support just wasn't broadcast."

It's not surprising that Penn would immerse himself in research and invective on his country's political life; as an actor, he's been an obsessive study. To cue his character's depression, for example, he used to place a watered-down Coke in a scene. "Watered-down Coke is always a disappointing taste for me." Now, Penn says, "I can find that disappointment internally, so I can be more flexible. The less you need tangibly, the freer you are to access emotions. It's always about freeing yourself. It's always about getting your head out of the mirror."

He can't get his head out of our looking glass. With two bold, punishing performances, a fulfilling domesticity and a commitment to political discourse that will infuriate some, inspire others, Penn can count on having his face on that WANTED poster for years to come.