At Close Range – 1986 – Crime, Drama
Directed by: James Foley
Written by: Nicholas Kazan
Main Players: Sean Penn; Christopher Walken; Chris Penn; Mary Stuart Masterson; Kiefer Sutherland; Crispin Glover; Millie Perkins; Eileen Ryan; David Strathairn
Another “true story” type tale sets a dark and brutal stage as criminal tendencies run through the veins of a father and son alike. It is 1978 and Brad Whitewood Jr. (Sean Penn) drives at night in rural Pennsylvania. He then spots his little brother Tommy (Chris Penn), who had tried to get some dude to buy him booze, and was stiffed instead. The guy bought himself some gin and didn’t get Tommy anything, so Brad steps up to the plate.
The guy gets in his car to leave, and Brad dramatically jumps onto the hood, not letting go. Eventually the dude relents and gives him back the 5 bucks AND the booze. A couple of ladies watching the action unfold are impressed, for some reason. Brad meets Terry (Masterson) and her friend Jill, while complimenting Terry on her smile. Time to pop some pills for “Little Brad” Jr. He gets Terry to meet up with him in a few days at the same spot, then takes Tommy and his buddy out to party. What a night.
The next day, “Big Brad” Whitewood (Walken) pops by, having gotten out of prison recently. He checks in with Brad Jr. and drops a bit of cash off for his mother Julie (Perkins) and grandma (Ryan). Little Brad’s step pops Ernie doesn’t like his and Tommy’s partying attitude as they drink and smoke pot on the couch, and they get into a scrap. A rough family life is all that Brad Jr. seems to know in this rural county.
As Little Brad starts kicking it with Big Brad, a life of crime seems inevitable. Big Brad and his crew get back to their old thieving ways, and away we go with the plot. Will generational law-breaking antics tear these men’s family apart?
At Close Range is a pretty good true crime tale, however it ventures into some pretty merciless territory. It pits family members versus the law, as well as against themselves as tensions and legal charges push them to the limits. There is a surprisingly good group of actors involved throughout, and it is competently shot and directed. While it may not move at a breakneck pace, what is covered remains well done, and the true-life story it is based on is pretty wild.
See This If You Liked:
Animal Kingdom; Black Mass (2015); Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead; Road to Perdition; Badlands (1973); The Place Beyond the Pines; Winter’s Bone; Goodfellas; We Own the Night; A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints; Blood Ties (2013)
Score:
7.5