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Summary: An Amazing Film That No One Seems To Have Heard Of
Review: I first saw this film years ago and it has haunted me to this day. The father is so evil and so willing to go to any lengths to empower himself. The son, poor, young, and naive, wants to be successful in the only way he can, emulating his father. It's pitiful and horrifying at the same time. The ending is absolutely heart-wrenching. I cried. I have especially recommended it to my movie-buff friends, many of whom have never heard of it. Invariably, they are very impressed with it. It is a very, very powerful film.
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Summary: Can't Shake This One
Review: I have not been able to shake the images in this movie from the first time I watched it. I would check the tv listings every week looking for it because I could never find it at my local video shop. Finally bought it and have been passing it around to everyone I know since. I managed to download some original information on the true life events and usually pass copies to the people I am lending the movie to. This movie, the performances (particularly by Walken and Penn) and the knowledge that it is close in essence to what really happened make this
movie one that should be on anyone's "must see" list.
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Summary: Knowing the Family
Review: I was quite young when this movie was made, and it still haunts me. I know the real family, they lived in the same town. Everyone was afraid of the family patriarch, "Brad." He was an easy-going guy, until you were on his bad side. Great movie.
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Summary: "You're weird kid, you know that"?
Review: Imagine residing in a small town in Pennsylvania where the living is easy, but only if you're unemployed and living at home. Sean and Christoper Penn are living with their Mom and grandma and their Mom's boyfriend, Ernie. But Ernie and Brad (Sean Penn)don't get along well and Brad looks up his Dad (Walken) who is a thief by trade. Brad meets Terry, a naive 16 year old who falls for him but is definitely not prepared for the lifestyle he wants to adopt--his Dad's. As the story continues, things get more tense. Everything doesn't work out right and family ties get broken. The movie is intense and one scene is embarrassing--the 16 yr old Terry among hardened criminals. Before everything starts going bad Terry and Brad sneak out and get together with Brad's friends at a quarry and go swimming. It looks like alot of fun...inner tubes, diving from ledges, smoking pot, drinking beer and living it up. It's the last good time they'll have. Not a show for people who abhor violence but yes, powerful and disturbing and well acted.
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Summary: Walken's Finest Hour
Review: It still bothers me that this film was so overlooked when it came to nominations. The overall beauty of the composition-the way the director placed the characters in light and shadow- reminded me of rennaisance paintings. While Christopher Walken had tantalized viewers in many roles from small time innocent in Vietnam to his latter day incarnations as masters of pure evil, here he gave an incredibly nuanced portrait of a monster, a real, sometimes likeable monster and father.To this reviewer, one of the best acting performances ever committed to film.
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Summary: Superlative filmmaking...
Review: It's official... "At Close Range" is here on DVD! I've seen an early release copy of the film, and it turns out the DVD transfer is ABSOLUTELY SUPERB. I can't evaluate the sound because I have only a stereo hookup (sounded good in stereo), but it's clear a lot of work went into video restoration and the actual transfer to MPEG format. This is likely the best transfer to DVD I've seen of any 1980's film -- the picture is clear and bright, and the colors are absolutely beautiful. Offered in single layer format, with widescreen on one side and pan-and-scan on the other. The only unfortunate thing is that there aren't any special features (only a theatrical preview)... it's too bad, but don't let that discourage you from getting this film on DVD!As for the story itself, this is perhaps Christopher Walken's best performance -- but there isn't a single poor performance in the entire film. Superlative production values and fantastic acting and music help support this film, which is based on a true story (and apparently based pretty closely, from what I've heard). As for the plot itself, I won't comment too much (a lot has been said here already and on the Internet Movie Database), but if you like crime dramas and teen romances (and can handle some violence), you'll likely love this film. 9/10, or 5/5 stars.
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Summary: One of my favorite films
Review: Juvenile deliquent Brad Whitewood Jr ( Sean Penn), spends his time in a small town with his friends pulling off petty thefts for small time cash. However, Brad is getting sick of his boring life, and longs to make some serious money. Brad's father (Christopher Walken) is the leader of a serious gang of thieves. Brad has heard the rumors about his father, but never got a chance to know him. So he decides to leave his boring life behind, and sets out to find his father so that he can learn the tricks of the trade and become just like him. At first, Brad's father appears to be a good guy filled with plenty of wisdom and helpful hints on how to make it big. But when Brad witnesses his father intentionally kill someone, he realizes that he may be in over his head. "At Close Range" is a great film. The story is based on the real life story of killer Bruce Johnson. With the acception of the character's names being chaged, the film features an accurate interpretation of events. It is truly a shame that no one really knows about this film. It features a powerful and emotional tale of an American criminal family. The film is very captivating and draws you in from the beginning. The story is great because it combines a somewhat touching look at a son getting to know his father, with an extremely well thought out crime story. This film emphasizes the term "appearances can be deceiving" because as the story goes on, Brad begins to learn what type of man his father really is. There is also a nice romance aspect to the story because Sean Penn's character meets and falls for a woman played by Mary Stuart Masterson. Sean Penn and Christopher Walken offer two of their finest performances in this film, which is another reason why it is a shame that no one knows about this movie. "At Close Range" shows that Sean Penn was a great actor before "Mystic River". He nails the role with his perfect portrayal of being rebellious and naive at the same time. Christopher Walken is great because he plays both the loving father and the hardened criminal so well. Walken's performance in this film will give you the creeps. It really was the perfect role for him. Overall, I would place "At Close Range" at the top of the "unknown gem" category. This film is probably one of the best crime films I have ever seen. The story is absolutely fantastic and the actors involved could not have given better peformances. A solid 5 stars...
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Summary: SIMPLY STUNNING
Review: ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FILMS, IT JUST BLEW ME AWAY. REMEMBER A TIME WHEN MOVIES WERE MADE WITH INGEGRITY, LOVE, UNDERSTANDING AND GRITTINESS? WELL, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE.STELLAR PERFORMANCES, A GRIPPING, (IF CHILLING) STORYLINE AND GORGEOUS CINEMAPHOTOGRAPHY. WHILE WATCHING THIS, I FELT ABSOLUTELY TRANSPORTED TO THE TIME AND PLACE, AND I THINK SEAN PENN AND CHRISTOPHER WALKEN WERE SUPERBLY CAST IN THEIR ROLES - WHAT CHEMISTRY! I'VE NEVER SEEN WALKEN IN A BETTER ROLE, ONE HAS TO REMIND ONESELF HE IS ONLY ACTING! MAN, THOSE DANGEROUS-LOOKING EYES! MARY STUART-MASTERTON IS AS ABSOLUTELY BELIVEABLE IN HER RATHER THANKLESS ROLE, SHE MANAGES TO BE VULNERABLE YET TOUGH AT THE SAME TIME AND CHRISTOPHER PENN IS GOOD TOO. REALLY SAD THAT THIS MOVIE BOMBED AT THE TIME OF IT'S RELEASE, CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ALL AUDIENCES WANT ARE SPECIAL EFFECTS AND SUPERFICIAL LOOKING ACTORS! (JUST A COUPLE OF REASONS WHY I AVOID MOST OF HOLLYWOOD'S NEW REALEASES OF TODAY). AT CLOSE RANGE IS A FILM I HAVE WATCHED AGAIN AND AGAIN, IT IS ENGROSSING, REALISTIC AND FULL OF POWER-HOUSE PERFORMANCES. JUST LOVED THE ENDING SCENE, IT BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EARS AND A LUMP TO MY THROAT. SEE IT!
Rating:
Summary: Is this the Family Gun, Dad?
Review: One of the best films of the 1980's, At Close Range tells the true story of the Johnston Family gang (changed here to Whitewood) which terrorized Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania in the 1970s by stealing tractor parts and generally being hoods. While the story may sound not too compelling, this film gets a huge boost from some great ensemble acting. This is the movie that got me over my aversion to Sean Penn and Christopher Walken delivers one of the most believably evil people in movies. I grew up in the town this all took place in and Bruce Johnston (Christopher Walken=Brad Whitewood) lived next door to my Uncle. And my Uncle said that Walken nailed this guy's persona. Scary Thought. What saves At Close Range from being just another crime movie is the flair that James Foley brings to the direction. It's often gorgeous, thank to Juan Ruiz Anchia's brilliant cinematography and in no small part to Patrick Leonard's haunting score, keyed to the melody of Live to Tell. How come there was never a soundtrack? Do yourself a favor, check it out and be reminded that evil does exist and in forms more insidious and banal than serial killers and possessed little girls.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty entertaining flick!
Review: Sean Penn and Christopher Walken are excellent in this movie that surprisingly didn't do so well at the box office. In the film, Sean Penn teams up with his father as a petty thief only to learn of his father's darker secrets. Great acting! Warning: Christopher Walken must have been chewing tobacco throughout the whole movie since you can't understand half of what he says. His creepy demeanor is what makes him such a good actor in this film.
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