But Mr Penn's political views will not cost him any film parts reckons Donna Bojarsky, an adviser to the actor Richard Dreyfuss and others.

ECONOMIST: The contenders battle among the stars

It was with some trepidation, therefore, that he attended an early screening of the German's modern-day interpretation of Poseidon starring Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas and Richard Dreyfuss.

BBC: Ronald Neame

Richard Dreyfuss, however, is devastating as Dick Cheney, and the cast also includes Jeffrey Wright (Colin Powell), Scott Glenn (Donald Rumsfeld), Thandie Newton (Condoleezza Rice), Toby Jones (Karl Rove), and Elizabeth Banks (Laura Bush).

NEWYORKER: W.