David Marchese

He's won Academy Awards for his work in Mystic River and Milk.

He does it in his occasional, somewhat gonzo journalism.

And he's also done it as an outspoken advocate for his liberal political views.

That swaggering approach to life has caused more than its share of skeptical eye rolls in his direction, but it is hard to doubt Penn's commitment to world affairs.

The best proof of that is his long-running humanitarian aid group called CORE, which lends on-the-ground help in places like Haiti, Sudan, and even here in the United States.

I spoke with Penn a few weeks ago at his home in Malibu.

We talked in a room surrounded by personal memorabilia, ranging from photos of family and his famous friends to an impressive and frankly daunting collection of knives.

His big dog wandered in and out of the room and the smoke from his cigarettes lingered in the air.

He was, I gotta say, exactly what I'd been hoping for.

Sincere, funny, a little crotchety, self-aware about his own grandiosity, and, as always, unafraid to let it fly.

Here's my conversation with Sean Penn.

So, we're ready to go?

Are you ready?

Sure.

Do I need to give a spiel beforehand?

You know basically what we're doing here, right?

So, can you just explain to the audience where we're doing this interview?

I would call this your man cave or the John Penn version of Elvis's jungle room.

HQ.

HQ.