How can a movie have a powerful message and still suck so bad? Director Sean Penn’s attempt at telling a love story amidst a political conflict in Africa is a slow, stupefyingly dull mess from start to finish. What’s even worse is all the talented people who wasted their time on this. Javier Bardem and Charlize Theron are both great actors, but they suffer gorgeously, thanks to clumsy writing and horrible horrible directing (Why, Sean Penn, why?). A big surprise, because Penn usually knows his way around the camera. Is he taking a risk? He’s been there before (see his amazing film “Into the Wild”). This time, the risk doesn’t pay off. “The Last Face” is easily Penn’s worst movie as a director.