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At Close Range (1986)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Reviews Counted: 17
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 3

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 8,104

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Movie Info

Amazingly, At Close Range was based on a true story. Bored teenager Sean Penn meets his prodigal father (Christopher Walken) for the first time in years. Though Penn is vaguely aware that his father is a criminal, he is nonetheless impressed by his dad's high life style and creature comforts. But Walken's veneer of charm is fragile indeed, and it becomes clear that he is willing to kill anyone--even his family--if they get in his way. When Walken rapes Penn's girl friend (Mary Stuart Masterson)

R, 1 hr. 55 min.

Drama

Directed By: James Foley

Written By: Nicholas Kazan

In Theaters: Apr 18, 1986 Wide

On DVD: Dec 19, 2000

Orion Pictures Corporation

At Close Range Trailer & Photos

Cast

Sean Penn
Brad Whitewood Jr.
Christopher Walken
Brad Whitewood Sr.
Mary Stuart Masterson
Terry
Chris Penn
Tommy Whitewood
Millie Perkins
Julie Whitewood
Eileen Ryan
Grandmother
Candy Clark
Mary Sue
Alan Autry
Ernie
R.D. Call
Dickie Whitewood
Tracey Walter
Patch
J.C. Quinn
Boyd
David Strathairn
Tony Pine
Jake Dengel
Lester
Crispin Glover
Lucas
Kiefer Sutherland
Tim
Noelle Parker
Jill
Stephen Geoffreys
Aggie
Paul Herman
Salesman
Anna Levine
Barroom Dancer
Myke R. Mueller
2nd Car Salesman
James Foley
Assistant District Atto...
Doug Anderson
Marshall
Terry Baker
Customer
Terri Coulter
Barroom Dancer
E.R. Davies
Detective Mosker
Janie Draper
Stripper
Marshall Fallwell Jr.
Bartender
Gary Gober
District Attorney
bonita Hall
Buxom Woman
Charles Tatoo Jensen
Older Guy
Bob McDivitt
Farmer with Shotgun
Nancy Sherburne
Waitress
Michael Edwards
1st Car Slaesman

Critic Reviews for At Close Range

All Critics (17) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (3) | DVD (5)

General audiences will respond to the very strong performances of the two leads, especially Walken in one of his best roles.

August 13, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

There's something bold about the film's wealth of imagery, but it also so overstates the material of the screenplay that it eventually annihilates both it and the story.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Vincent Canby

New York Times

Top Critic

Penn and Walken [are] at the top of their forms in roles that give them a lot to work with.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Less than intoxicating.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Brittle and rough; full of excellent performances, too.

April 3, 2005 Comment

Scott Weinberg

eFilmCritic.com

Though beginning as a tale about alienated youth, the film quickly devolves into a melodrama of a son (Sean Penn) corrupted by his own father (Christopher Walken) in a valueless world.

November 24, 2004 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

A riveting film about murder, the father-son relationship gone bad and the high cost of rejecting the view that might makes right.

August 26, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

Christopher Walken's hair and bushy mustache almost make the maudlin At Close Range worth watching, but not quite.

May 9, 2004 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

| Comments (4)

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

One of the most underrated thrillers of it's time

September 17, 2002 Comment

Clint Morris

Moviehole

"a dark jewel of a drama, with first-rate performances"

July 29, 2002 Comment

James Sanford

Kalamazoo Gazette

If you like your drama dark and your taste in acting favours the credible-looking but verbally challenged Sean Penn, then you'll likely find At Close Range an interesting movie choice.

February 13, 2001 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide

| Comment (1)

Brian Webster

Apollo Guide

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for At Close Range

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Fact is stranger than fiction. And it was so in this case. I found the real events on which the movie was based to be creepier than the movie itself. I was startled to learn that some of the sequences weren't artistic creations, but it happened for real. For example: I found the scene where Brad Jr. gets shot with

March 16, 2011

familiar stranger

Super Reviewer

Yes, this movie is based on a true story, but true stories aren't always that good as movies. I liked some of this movie, it's got some good actors, too, but most of it was boring and I didn't care for the end.

September 6, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

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