Still, Penn's decision to make a film that parallels the only part of the 9/11 attacks that wasn't successfully executed (thanks to the brave passengers aboard United Flight 93) has even Bush-hating Hollywood nervous.

"It was very hard to find distribution for the film," director Neils Mueller told the New York Daily News. "People have such a profound reaction."

No kidding.

Still, Mueller insists that Penn's movie, set for release during Christmas week, no less, wasn't inspired by the 9/11 attacks, but instead on a 1999 book based on the true story of would-be presidential assassin Sam Bicke.

Sam who?

Exactly. Somehow we doubt the Bicke flick would have appeared on Penn's radar screen but for 9/11.

At least he's sure to get two thumbs-up from Al-Jazeera's Siskel & Ebert.

Editor's note: