| At Close Range | | Cast : | Sean Penn, Christopher Walken | | Director : | James Foley | | Studio : | MGM/UA Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | April 18, 1986 | | DVD Released Date : | December 19, 2000 | | Language : | Spanish (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 05, 2005 | | Summary | The Devil in Blue Suede Shoes | Content
 | The film purports to be based on true events. The saga of the Johnston gang, a "family" of burglars based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and reigned circa 1980 and then unfolded into murder happened while I was in high school. The story got big play in the Philadelphia region and some national coverage. Oddly enough this movie was filmed in Tennessee. Also noteworthy is that when this film was released in 1986 it didn't even get a theatrical run in Philly. I had to wait until it was released later that year on home video before I saw it. Bear in mind that at the time Sean Penn was not the esteemed Academy award winning actor he is now but was better known as Madonna's husband. Christopher Walken, despite the Oscar he won for "The Deer Hunter", was a marketing challenge for Hollywood. As for the film itself, it perfectly captures the essence of the events and the place it occurred. I worked near Lancaster County around that time and my late brother-in-law was from the area and came to Philly because the mills had closed there. You can imagine if you were a young person at that time the desolation you might feel and Penn perfectly captures that restlessness. You can also imagine how someone like him would be drawn to a charismatic, albeit evil, father figure as assayed here by Walken. Walken's Brad Sr. is one of his great portrayals in an impressive career. With little histrionics or tics Walken embodies evil incarnate. There is also an excellent supporting cast here with Mary Stuart Masterson as Penn's innocent girlfriend, Chris Penn and Crispin Glover as Penn's buddies, and Tracey Walter as Walken's brother as standouts. This is most definitely one of the better and more underrated films of the eighties. Credit should also go to director James Foley and scriptwriter Nicholas Kazan for not only delivering a powerhouse film but for also getting it right. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 11, 2005 | | Summary | "Daddy, Daddy....Give me something" | Content
| "AT Close Range" is without question, one of the finest movies that the 80s produced.
Sean Penn plays a young criminal, who runs into his big-time criminal father(Christopher Walken) and joins Walkens' band of misfits. Along the way, Penn realizes what a terrible person his father is and tries to leave the gang. Walken is not liking that idea and has a different plan for Penn, one which involves his lovely girlfriend, played by Mary Stuart Masterson.
Chris Penn is also in this movie and plays Sean Penn's younger brother(that must have been diffcult for him).
This movie is sooooo great, because of Walken. His performance is undeniably creepy and overly effective. His character is drunk and doped-up for the entire movie and is always hiding his "evil" side. Walken is so capable of pulling this off, that it is impossible for me to even consider who else would have played this role had he not.
This movie is a little slow-moving, but that is simply to set the depressing, un-eventful daily life that takes place in this farm town this movie is set in. It almost explains why Penn gets involved with his father's crew---shear boredom.
There is some humor in ths film, most of which is provided by a drunk Walken character, stumbling and rambling about life.
The best line is when Penn tells Walken that he no longer wants to work with him and Walken; in a typical Walken voice, utters "Where ya gonna go...what'd ya gonna do....Food, clothes, pretty girl in your lap...you'll be crawling back to me; Daddy, Daddy, give me something"..I can rewind and watch that scene for hours.
This is truely a fantastic film and I highly recommend this one to anyone. Not suitable for young children as there is a lot of violence and some killing.
EVeryone else, I will be VERY surprised if this movie is not enoyed by all!!
HE GONE |
| Rating | | | Date | June 29, 2005 | | Summary | One of the strangest films I've ever seen - but still worth a view. | Content
| Let me first say that Sean Penn made this film. It certainly doesn't hurt when you add Chris Walken into the mix. But this movie had to be one of the weirdest, most bizarre films I've ever seen. Screen shots come and go seemingly without ryhme or reason. Dialogue is sometimes difficult to decipher - especially Walken's. Many scenes feel rushed. Sometimes you find yourself laughing when its really not a funny scene. But you can't help it, mainly because some of the scenes are just really friggin weird.
Once scene in particular deals with Crispin Glover, Keifer Sutherland, Mary Stuart Masterson, Sean Penn, Chris Penn(at about 1/2 his Resevoir Dogs size) and the imbecilic laughing horndog of a kid from Fright Night (Stephen Geoffreys). They're all out smoking hash by a lake. You see Masterson's character and Penn's character making out on a raft - and we also see Glover looking jealous - but we never find out why. This type of thing happens quite frequently. Many elements are never explained and many scenes make no sense - such as a scene when David Straithairn's (blind guy from Sneakers, abusive dad from Dolores Claiborne) character goes into an epileptic fit. I liked the scene, as it was well acted, it just doesn't make any sense.
You can quickly assert the campiness of this film and I now know why it's a "pulp indie" on IFC. I really liked the film, and to imagine the film without the senseless parts(which consumes about 50% of the movie) would be to disembowel it all altogether.
As for plot, a teen(Penn) just meets his father(Walken) for the first time, only, daddy's a full-time criminal who likes to steal tractors, boats, paintings, and occasionally off an former associate or two. He runs with a gang of heartless rednecks who also share in his malevolent ways. Dad thinks its time to bring in his boy but after his son watches his father and another man drown a former associate, the teen decides he wants out. Our protagonist decides he wants to take off with his girlfriend(Masterson) after being released from jail. Only......
I don't want to spoil it. But let's just say the final portion of the film isn't rushed and makes perfect sense. All in all, a worthwhile film. But don't be surprised if you find yourself questioning major portions of the screenplay and the annoying soundtrack that plays like a garage band at a funeral - in other words, it doesn't go with the movie at all, helping cumulate more and more oddities about the movie while making you laugh in perplexity.
3.5 out of 5 for campiness and taking a huge risk for its day. Also, its fun seeing all those stars before they made it big.....well, Crispin Glover, I'm sure, never saw himself taking the role in Willard when he made this movie! heh heh heh |
| Rating | | | Date | February 01, 2005 | | Summary | jonap CLASSIC MOVIES | Content
| Better than excellent movie...both sean penn and christopher walken are more than believable as well as terrific in their roles...get this movie! NOW! understand...it's not an upper, so if you're looking for fun and breezy, you're probably not going to get it, here. |
| Rating | | | Date | September 18, 2004 | | Summary | Excellent! | Content
| 'Highly recommended' doesn't do justice to this rare find. James Foley's, 'At Close Range,' is cinema par excellence. Reworking the sordid tragedy of the Whitewood crime clan, this is the kind of film that stays with you long after it's over. With its superb acting, artistic camera work and exceptionally life-like dialogue, 'At Close Range' truly deserves a place among, as one reviewer put it correctly, the ranks of the 'unknown gems.'
Although based on a true story, the film avoids all preaching and teaching. Instead, it is a tragic story, brilliantly told. Nothing more. At the center, you have a broken family, an absent father and a son hungering for a role model. While Brad Whitewood Jr. (Sean Penn) cruises and boozes through the inertia of small-town dreardom, Dad (Christopher Walken) jumps in and out of his life. All the while, Brad Jr. slowly learns more about the father he never really had. Following pa through a maze of petty theft, Brad hopes to 'earn' his father's respect and 'love.' But Brad Sr. is bereft of both and merely wants to initiate his son into the 'family,' a freaky collection of hillbilly thiefs and killers. Committing a minor robbery, Jr. passes Dad's tests (stealing and getting shot at) and soon becomes part of the gang. Yet, the deeper he goes in, Brad Jr. begins to see his father for who he really is, malicious and empty. Jr. must choose between following his father or following his own conscience. Choosing the latter, he must face a stand off with Sr. and prove whether son and father are truly one.
A gripping story, but without the genius of both Penn and Walken, 'At Close Range' would have long since died out. Both actors give something to their performances that puts this film over the top. Penn can show vulnerability like no other and plays Brad Jr. with just the right combination of awh-shucks naivety and muscle car bravado. His performance here is one of his best ever, but it is Walken (like always!) who steals the show. His Brad Sr. oozes malevolence. Foley does justice to his character with the tons of close-ups where Walken paralyzes you with his icy glare.
Not only is the film brilliantly acted, but brilliantly shot as well. The Tennessee countryside gives the perfect backdrop to this chapter in American crime. The verdant, pastoral feel of the background provides a sharp, thought-provoking contrast to the barren malice of Walken's character.
While the ending gives a closure of sorts, it is neither shiny nor happy, but rather portrays an all too common reality in many a family. Parent against child, child against parent. If you are looking for an uplifting experience, best to avoid this film. If, on the other hand, brilliant acting is your bag and you don't mind staring down the throat of reality, then take a 'closer' look at this gem. |
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