Lynn Belvedere

The Company You Keep

THE COMPANY YOU KEEP

 

 

 

 

A journalist discovers the true identity of a former Weather Underground activist, causing a daring escape from capture and search for truth.

THE COMPANY YOU KEEP, adapted from Neil Gordon’s 2003 novel, is Robert Redford’s ninth film as a director, and is about absolutes, secrets and always keeping to your principles.

A decidedly American story, this strongly character-driven political thriller is a valid tribute to America’s Vietnam era idealism, which sees Redford’s character undertaking an intricate journey to outrun his complicated past.

Hiding from the FBI for over thirty years, Robert Redford plays Jim Grant, a recently widowed single father and former Weather Underground militant wanted for a 1970’s bank robbery and murder.

Ben Shepard (Shia LaBeouf), an young journalist, pursues Jim. The past suddenly comes back to bite, so Jim goes on the run.  Ben later questions Jim’s actions, as they are clearly not the actions of a guilty man.  The movie plays with the huge contrast between a resourceful journalist, busy finding out interesting information using his own sources, pitched against the methods employed by the FBI.

The strong cast also includes Julie Christie, Susan Sarandon and Nick Nolte. The dialogue driven screenplay by Lem Dobbs is a joy, and the ideas behind this film are captivating and directed with energy and tight pace. The score by Cliff Martinez is something rare and greatly adds to the film. Hard truths are shown about past decisions made during those U.S. domestic uprisings of the Vietnam era, now referred to as “internal terrorism”.

Jim’s train scenes, pays homage to some of those great train scenes, from classic suspense films by Alfred Hitchcock.

Summing up, THE COMPANY YOU KEEP, running time 125 minutes, is an investigative thriller concerning past student terrorism with also meaningful things to say about today’s political systems.

Recommended, THE COMPANY YOU KEEP opened in Sydney cinemas on Thursday 18th April, 2013

 

Published by Lynn Belvedere

Once we were old enough, my parents took the whole family to the Sydney CBD cinemas every week. Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited ''Australian Film Censorship Board'' true cinéaste versions of brand new release ''Cinematograph Films''. Greater Union always gave my father (who worked in Cinema Distribution Exhibition) guest double movie passes, to every first-night ''red carpet Opening Night'' at The State Theatre Cinema at 49 Market Street. Up until his death, my dad always received ''two house seats'' for every Opening Night performance events at the Theatre Royal SYDNEY and at Her Majesty's Theatre SYDNEY. As a child, when mum choose not to go, I often went with him, to those live performance events. As a young child, I remember being taken for each new show, at both The New Theatre at 60 Sussex Street, and the Phillip Street Theatre when located at 150 Elizabeth Street, and for classical music concerts at Sydney Town Hall. = = = ★★★★★ = = = Being happy is a choice, and I have always viewed my life, as material ready be made into a series of amazing tentpole movies. My New Years Resolution is kept every year: ''Get to see/review five new live theatre shows each week, and get to see/review six new cinema movies each week'', plus is one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers, and apparently have seen far too much already, but always wanting to experience more and more each year. I am also able to do almost everything that I enjoy doing. Yes, I do have a great daytime job in I.T. as ''Software Design Project Manager'', PLUS each evening until quite late - - - Australian Cinematograph Films historical censorship consultant - product-placement consultant - mystery-shopper consultant - playwright, writer, author, director, producer, photographer, cinematographer, color-grader, subtitles proofreader - arts/ drama/ music/ film critic and judge, journalist, member FIPRESCI & FCCA & AFCA, member AACTA accredited film reviewer-critic-writer, accredited IMDB.COM critic-reviewer-author, projectionist, plus an innovative iconoclast - - - ★★★★★ LYNN BELVEDERE ★★★★★ - - - [usr 5] - - -