By Kaitlin Keane

A clean shaven, conservatively clad Sean Penn sat before a packed theater of students in Loews Boston Common last Tuesday, a subdued version of the paparazzi-punching Hollywood bad boy we knew in the ’90s. But the Oscar-winning actor proved he has not lost his determined and outspoken political drive, speaking to the audience of local college students about his new film and expressing frustrations with the government with several snide quips directed at the president.

Seated beside Niels Mueller and Alfonso Cuaron, director and producer of “The Assassination of Richard Nixon,” a composed Penn spoke about everything from getting into character to the heroism of “the kids” in Iraq, dismissing the crass outbursts of audience members unable to resist Madonna jokes with the stone-faced coolness one would expect.

“I’ll tell you what — you come check me and I’ll check you,” Penn said to an Emerson College student who inquired as to whether the actor wore a toupee. It was one of the lighter moments of the event, which was open to all college students.