Sometimes
I come across a movie that I want to see, but then don't for various
reasons. Sometimes years can go by before things come together and I
finally get to see it.
One such
film is At Close Range (1986), starring Christopher Walken, Sean
Penn, Chris Penn and a host of others. Keep your eyes out for a very
young Kiefer Sutherland.
The movie
is set in 1978, and is based on real events, which is pretty
disturbing. Walken is the leader of a small gang of successful
thieves in rural Pennsylvania. He is estranged from his two teenage
sons (the Penn brothers), but the older (Sean) gets involved in his
fathers crime due to a need to make money, and then things spiral out
of control. You see, Walken is both violent and paranoid, and that's
dangerous when combined.
That's
pretty much all I can say without spoiling the film, and that would
be a terrible shame, because I really liked it.
I have
seen Walken in many films over the years, and he always delivers a
memorable performance. At Close Range is no exception. He goes from
charming but creepy to absolutely terrifying very quickly, and yet
his character is always believable.
The Penn
brothers are also very good, and it's a rare treat to see two actual
brothers play on screen brothers. It doesn't get more authentic than
that. As a fun twist, their real mother is playing their grandmother
as well.
Based on
what I knew, or rather thought I knew about this movie, I was pretty
surprised. The pacing is slow, but it works, and it doesn't get
boring. The soundtrack is apparently famous, and it is good, but left
me personally a bit unimpressed. It works though. The whole film
reeks of the 70's as it should.
I
absolutely recommend this film. If you haven't seen it, go do so.
Until then, have a great week!
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