At Close Range (B or 3/4 stars)
'At Close Range' (directed by James Foley) - which is based on an incredible true story from 1978 - introduces us to main character, Bradford Whitewood Jr. (Sean Penn). The blonde teen lives with his divorced mother (Millie Perkins), world-weary grandma (Eileen Ryan), & half-brother (Chris Penn) in a setting of poverty, nonstop TV watching & utter boredom. Once in a while, his absentee father, Brad Sr. (Christopher Walken), appears out of the blue & tosses $$ on the kitchen table. Then Brad Sr. drives away in a fast car with some random chick. Bored beyond belief, Brad Jr. is intrigued by his father's romanticized life of crime.
Walken has this chilling ability to be both charming & evil at the same time. In the film, he's actually the leader of an organized crime family consisting of his own brothers & some 'friends'. Brad Sr. is a big shot, and yet, in a way, he really enjoys the fact that his estranged son has started to idolize him. Sean Penn, as Brad Jr., is kind of a punk. You see it in his look; his demeanor; his actions. He's a misfit, an outcast, & has nothing going for him -- and yet, a criminal, he is not. In his father, young Brad looks for love, and also for leadership (something to do). Brad Jr. is the leader of his own young gang, & his dad gives those the kids a couple of easy jobs; seemingly getting them ready for a bigger endeavor to come.
But when that endeavor (a heist) goes wrong & it results in the gang being arrested, Brad Sr. is prepared to save his own hide ... even at the cost of betraying his own son. Brad Sr. believes that his son will inform the cops about his criminal activities, so he does something awful to Brad Jr.'s girlfriend (Mary Stuart Masterson), as a warning. The attack results in the opposite effect as Brad, Jr. begins informing the police about his dad's activities; including a murder. When Brad Sr.'s name is given to the grand jury by his own son, he feels that his only recourse is to eliminate every witness that can connect him & his hang with his son's. Tragedy strikes.
'At Close Range' is not a particularly pleasant film to sit through. It paints a bleak, valueless picture of humanity. Walken's character is ruthless. Most of the other characters are weak or lacking in self-awareness. That's especially true of Brad Jr.'s mom & grandma, who slovenly sit around the house, their heavy-lidded eyes darting here & there during every conversation while watching the TV. Sad, lonely losers. Only Brad Jr. & his sweet girlfriend have that chance of getting out of town & making a life for themselves. But because their love affair ends up on a deadly collision course with Brad Sr., it forces Brad Jr. to grow-up mighty fast.
Though the film's beginning starts as a voyeuristic tale of alienated youth in a small rural town, it devolves into a slow, violent, & unforgiving story about a young man's need for acceptance from a father who would sooner kill his own son if necessary to survive. That's a HARD watch. There's nothing cheery about that. So the main reason to watch this film is to witness 2 actors - one a newcomer, one a veteran - giving tough, hardened, yet brittle emotional performances. Watch the riveting faces & line deliveries of Sean Penn & Christopher Walken for ultimate effect.
Walken has this chilling ability to be both charming & evil at the same time. In the film, he's actually the leader of an organized crime family consisting of his own brothers & some 'friends'. Brad Sr. is a big shot, and yet, in a way, he really enjoys the fact that his estranged son has started to idolize him. Sean Penn, as Brad Jr., is kind of a punk. You see it in his look; his demeanor; his actions. He's a misfit, an outcast, & has nothing going for him -- and yet, a criminal, he is not. In his father, young Brad looks for love, and also for leadership (something to do). Brad Jr. is the leader of his own young gang, & his dad gives those the kids a couple of easy jobs; seemingly getting them ready for a bigger endeavor to come.
But when that endeavor (a heist) goes wrong & it results in the gang being arrested, Brad Sr. is prepared to save his own hide ... even at the cost of betraying his own son. Brad Sr. believes that his son will inform the cops about his criminal activities, so he does something awful to Brad Jr.'s girlfriend (Mary Stuart Masterson), as a warning. The attack results in the opposite effect as Brad, Jr. begins informing the police about his dad's activities; including a murder. When Brad Sr.'s name is given to the grand jury by his own son, he feels that his only recourse is to eliminate every witness that can connect him & his hang with his son's. Tragedy strikes.
'At Close Range' is not a particularly pleasant film to sit through. It paints a bleak, valueless picture of humanity. Walken's character is ruthless. Most of the other characters are weak or lacking in self-awareness. That's especially true of Brad Jr.'s mom & grandma, who slovenly sit around the house, their heavy-lidded eyes darting here & there during every conversation while watching the TV. Sad, lonely losers. Only Brad Jr. & his sweet girlfriend have that chance of getting out of town & making a life for themselves. But because their love affair ends up on a deadly collision course with Brad Sr., it forces Brad Jr. to grow-up mighty fast.
Though the film's beginning starts as a voyeuristic tale of alienated youth in a small rural town, it devolves into a slow, violent, & unforgiving story about a young man's need for acceptance from a father who would sooner kill his own son if necessary to survive. That's a HARD watch. There's nothing cheery about that. So the main reason to watch this film is to witness 2 actors - one a newcomer, one a veteran - giving tough, hardened, yet brittle emotional performances. Watch the riveting faces & line deliveries of Sean Penn & Christopher Walken for ultimate effect.