Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Scott LeBrun Sean Penn delivers a solid, mostly under stated performance as Brad Whitewood Jr., living in Pennsylvania in the late 70s with a mother (Millie Perkins), grandmother (Eileen Ryan), and half-brother Tommy (Chris Penn). Brad and Tommy's estranged father Brad Sr. (Christopher Walken) fatefully re-enters their lives, and they become intrigued with the criminal life that he leads. Ultimately, they will realize that this rediscovered father figure is as toxic as he can possibly get. Brad Sr. will stop at NOTHING to protect his interests, including murder.This imperfect but still pretty powerful drama was inspired by a real-life case, and it's noticeably downbeat and violent. Something this viewer felt was lacking was a stronger connection to Brad Jr. and Tommy, although they are basically okay kids with a mildly punkish streak. As we can see, they're young enough to be impressionable, and the magnetic Brad Sr. messes up their lives for the worse.Director James Foley (who also cameos as an assistant D.A.) crafts a reasonably stylish and good looking film, shot in widescreen on various scenic locations. The haunting (if also fairly repetitive) music score is courtesy of Patrick Leonard, who also wrote the classic theme song "Live to Tell" with Madonna. The use of violence is, for the most part, restrained, except for one shocking act of brutality late in the picture, when Brad Jr. is confronted with the depths of his dads' depravity.Excellent casting in just about every role helps. The real-life Penn brothers have good chemistry, and it's nice to see them in scenes with Ryan, their mother. Mary Stuart Masterson has much appeal as the under-age girl to whom Brad Jr. is drawn. Familiar younger actors like Crispin Glover, Kiefer Sutherland, and Stephen Geoffreys of "Fright Night" turn up, as well as some of L.A.'s top character actors: Penn family friend R.D. Call ("Waterworld") as Dickie, David Strathairn ("Good Night, and Good Luck.") as Tony Pine, J.C. Quinn ("The Abyss") as Boyd, and Tracey Walter ("Repo Man") as amiable chatterbox Patch. Walken dominates it all with a performance that may not be free from standard Walken eccentricities / line delivery, but is disturbingly effective in its creepy charisma.Overall, "At Close Range" does work viscerally, and stays with you after its final moments.Scripted by Nicholas Kazan, based on a screen story by him and producer Elliott Lewitt.Seven out of 10.

gwnightscream Sean Penn, Christopher Walken, Mary Stuart Masterson, Chris Penn, Millie Perkins, Eileen Ryan, Tracey Walter, David Strathairn, R.D. Call, Crispin Glover, Stephen Geoffreys and Kiefer Sutherland star in this 1986 crime drama based on true events. This takes place in 1978 focusing on young man, Brad Whitewood Jr. (Penn) who gets to know his estranged father, Brad Sr. (Walken) and falls into his world of organized crime. Masterson (Chances Are) plays young Brad's girlfriend, Terry, Perkins plays his mother, Judy and Ryan plays his grandma. Walter (Batman) plays Patch, Strathairn (A League of Their Own) plays Tony and Call (Young Guns II) plays Dickie who work with Brad's father. Penn's late brother, Chris (Footloose) plays his on-screen brother, Tommy, Glover (Back to the Future) plays Lucas, Geoffreys (Fright Night) plays Aggie and Sutherland (The Lost Boys) plays Tim, their friends who get mixed up in the crimes. Penn and Walken are great in this, especially Walken because I hate his character and I also like Madonna's song, "Live to Tell." I recommend this good, powerful film.

AaronCapenBanner Christopher Walken and Sean Penn play Brad Whitewood Sr. & Jr., father and son who are reunited after the fathers long absence. The father belongs to a criminal gang specializing in theft, and his son(along with his friends, and other brother Tommy) want to join the gang, without realizing what a bad role model he really is, since he counts his ties to the gang far tighter than his family, which they will learn to their regret, as they get involved deeper into the stealing of farm equipment.Though well acted by the leads, with intense direction by James Foley, any emotional involvement is utterly muted, since the viewer is kept at arms length throughout, and it is difficult to care about any of them; you'll just want to see them arrested...

Bill Roeschlein Based on a real life story, At Close Range depicts the lives of tractor thieves from rural Pennsylvania. Christopher Walken is the ring leader of this motley crew which includes his brother Dickey and brother Patch, along with friends Boyd and Torrey Pine, an epileptic. The crew make a living out of breaking into warehouses to steal anything of value, be it money, tractors or personal jewelry. Walken has a mole in the police force who alerts him to their activities. Sean Penn plays the disenfranchised son, who after reuniting with Walken, wants to join the ring of thieves. So, Penn forms his own group of young guys, featuring Keifer Sutherland in one of his early roles, to impress Dad. Walker, however, finds out that the FBI and prosecutors have appointed a grand jury to investigate the group's activities. Proving blood is not thicker than water,Walken concocts a plan to kill his son, fearing he may be turned into the FBI. Fantastic performances by both. - Bill Roeschlein