At Close Range
Brad Jr. (Sean Penn) is a young outcast going nowhere in life. Living with his mother, grandmother, and stepbrother Tommy in a broken down home, his days are spent drinking Colt 45’s and smoking weed on the couch. Then one day everything changes when his estranged father (Christopher Walken) stops by with a wad of cash, a fast car, and a seducing lifestyle.
The kinship between father and son emerges as Brad Jr. is bustled into the life of crime his father leads with a rough group of friends. He’s making money and perhaps more importantly, receiving the affection from his father that he craves. With his newfound love (Mary Stuart Masterson) by his side, everything in Brad’s life is falling into place. But events happen that question his devotion to his father, and set forth a chain reaction that will push the emotions of love, trust, and betrayal into the forefront.
For fans of Christopher Walken, this is a film that displays his greatest qualities as an actor in a role that is built for him. His portrayal of a ruthless thief hell bent on destroying anyone who gets in his path is near flawless. At Close Range is an earlier work of Sean Penn, and helped him launch into the star that we know him as today. His representation of a confused outcast is spot on. The relationship between Walken and Penn on-screen is stellar, and shows two movie stars at the top of their profession.
The movie can be described as a dramatic thriller that touches on a number of real issues in society. From poverty to love, including the unique dynamics involved in a broken home. Perhaps most importantly though, the movie delves deeply into the life of a criminal. It discusses the bonds that are made as well as the forces that drive a man’s actions past the realm of human comprehension.
Despite being released in 1986, At Close Range has stood the test of time and is a great movie. While the final sequences stretch the bounds of reality, you’ll get a gripping and intense storyline to go with an incredible cast of actors at the top of their game. It is violent and dark, but provides both a real crime story and look into the relationship of a father and son.
4 and a half out of 5 stars
This movie was rented via Netflix and received within one day of being shipped.
