Casualty of Chaw

Some viewers at early screenings of director Brian de Palma’s “Casualties of War” are scratching their heads about Sean Penn’s elocution--or lack thereof--in the Vietnam War film. Complaints have him mumbling, pushing his tongue around and whistling words off his teeth.

Remarked one prominent critic: “I couldn’t understand a word he said for the first 20 minutes.”

A Columbia spokeswoman downplayed any serious speech problems. “He has chewing tobacco in his mouth,” she remarked. “I think it’s (his character’s Bronx) accent, plus the wad of tobacco.”

No re-looping is planned, she added--”We’re done.”

The film opens Aug. 18.