The Company You Keep Reviews

Idea behind this film is very captivating and the screenplay by Lem Dobbs sparkles with well written dialogue. Unfortunately director/actor Robert Redford turns this material into lifeless and flat film which does have so much potential but zero ambition. If there is something which this film would needed is a tighter pace and more energy. Now everything is turned into minimum and overall effect feels too bland.

With a cast this good it almost feels that you cannot go wrong but Redford has actors like Susan Sarandon, Julie Christie, Sam Shepard, Nick Nolte, Chris Cooper and Richard Jenkins popping up in a certain order and they only end up being more distracting than serving the story. It all becomes like a bad joke where you try to guess which actor is going to show up next and how much screentime he or she is going to get.

Generally i like these kind of investigation thrillers with political undertones. The Company You Keep has something to say about politics and it has chase scenes. It is just that the tension is nowhere to be found and the political tones feel pointless. Even the score by Cliff Martinez felt oddly average which is something rare. Redford's film does find it's rhytm in the final third when fugitive Jim Grant, played by Redford himself, arrives in the remote cabin deep in the woods, but this section in film comes too late and cannot take away the fact that everything before it has been just below average TV-thriller stuff. This could have been something much more than it actually is. I rank this one as a missed opportunity.

Not a great film, but a reasonably engaging thriller that wrestles with the legacy of radical movements such as the Weather Underground.

The film is good, but it could have been so much better. The film reminds me a little of movies like The Fugitive, True Crimes, and Running on Empty. I could have also seen Clint Eastwood direct the film too. Overall, Redford does a good job here both acting wise and directing wise.

On a positive, Redford casted a really great ensemble. Julie Christie steals the film. Sarandon is great when she is on screen. Same goes with Richard Jenkins. Solid supporting work also here from Terrence Howard, Stanley Tucci, Brendan Gleeson, Chris Cooper, Sam Elliot, and Anna Kendrick.

On a negative, Shia LaBeouf is miscast here. He feels out of place. He is no match to Redford or Sarandon, when he is on screen with them. It is like he is doing a bad John Cusack impersonation in this movie. Another actor in that role would have been so much better. I think Jessie Eisenberg would have been good in that role. I also didn't like that small flirtation between his character and Brit Marling's character. It feels out of place here. Also I would have like to have seen more as to why Sarandon turned herself in. The pacing is also off here.

Overall, I definitely recommend the film especially for the performances.

Engaging and well cast, "The Company You Keep" has at least enough star power to keep the entire film interesting. Robert Redford directs and stars in this politically charged thriller, producing familiar faces around every corner and providing a template to any future inspirations to making an ensemble piece work out perfectly. Shia LaBeouf proves he can hang, yet again, in a dramatic role. His idioms provide plenty of humorous moments, but for the most part, he nails this performance and makes it his own. Brit Marling also captivates in her small role and rises above her limited exposure to produce one of the highlights of the film. The Lem Dobbs writing keeps you guessing through most of the film, and even though I figured out some of the oncoming twists well before they were acknowledged is due more to the fact that I've seen so many movies, rather than the twists being telegraphed. Overall, Redford proves successful in both his roles of the film and never shows signs of aging, a curse that comes for many seasoned actors of his generation.

A good drama thriller with good performances by Robert Redford, Shia LaBeouf, Susan Sarandon and Julie Christie.
It was a nice little ride towards what appeared to be an interesting ending, but
the ending ruined the film a bit for me. It seems they tried to wrap it up into a nice little package. It seemed too constricted to me.

Jumbled and barely holds, crammed with competing narrative.

The best movie I've seen all year! An intelligent script that doesn't require 3D goggles or CGI gimmicks to tell its engaging tale. I remember the Weather Underground and even had a friend who was active in the organization; I can vouch for the authenticity of its depiction, and the premise of this film as it reveals those former members decades later. Although it's based on a novel, this film could easily be based on fact. The cast is splendid (although Shia LeBeouf has terrible diction that can't always be understood). Robert Redford, as Director, relies (to everyone's advantage) on the experience of making "All The President's Men" to pace the tension. What a joy to see Julie Christie and Susan Sarandon again!

Playing at the Avon. Very good, some of my favorite actors in it, and the plot revolved around consequences of past actions.

Both Redford and Lebouf do a terrific job, however the film just falls flat. There is an intreguing political story here to tell, however as the story unfolds, its really no longer that interesting which is a shame because it has a lot of potential

Reasonably good effort. Good directing and intelligent acting.

an excellent film with an excellent cast, but it just falls short at the end. I was waiting for more!

A thoughtful, well-directed and suspenseful movie. Full of strong performances by old favorites and new stars alike. Definitely recommend it!

My reactions ranged from bored to angry, but the single line in the movie that sent me over the edge was when it was said The Weathermen radicalized the anti-war movement. This is just not true. They were a small, egocentric group that had become alienated from the grassroots movements of the day. I would call it ideologically lazy. A further distortion was that they did not kill anyone unless you count the three members of the group that blew themselves up trying to construct bombs. At a time we need serious discussion for the needs of the masses, the only thing Redford offers is fodder for the Right Wing. Very disappointed. Oh yes......the movie was not entertaining at all.

Saw this last night at my local Regal "art cinema" and walked out to find that I knew half the people who in the audience. What does that say? Well, for one, this is a tale that rings true for people my age. I lived in Ann Arbor during the time period that SDS was born and remember well the incident referred to in the film. The theme here, that our past is always part of who we are, is one we know well. This stellar cast, most of them Oscar-award winners, led by Robert Redford tell a story of passion and pain. Redford's timely film perhaps leads us to look at the political situation in the world today through another lens. Don't be put off by the negative reviews of this film, go experience it for yourself - particularly if you lived through the 60s and 70s.

This is a solid film. Still, the old love affair just does not work for me. There is just something missing. I just did not care about any of the actors at the end.

This movie has been subjected to a lot of bashing in the conservative press. Much of it started before anyone had a chance to see it, so the criticism started with only knowing the movie's topic and Redford's politics

While I am largely conservative, I am organically suspicious of the press and it's motives, regardless of the side they come down upon. Apparently, Redford is too, and for seemingly good reason. Maybe he should make a film about it. Maybe, he could call it 'The Company You Keep'

As a conservative, I will tell you that this film does not glorify such anti-social behavior. Quite the opposite. If I had an activist child or grandchild, I would make them watch this movie, just so they could consider the idea that actions they might take can spin out of control, leaving them with consequences they might be forced to live with for the rest of their life, and just as importantly, exact that same price upon all their loved ones.

Incredible cast superbly directed with a thoughtful, provocative, suspenseful story. No action figures and no explosions but it is not just about politics - it is about us.. the choices we make... career choices... relationships... compromises... how you deal with the past... aging... personal sacrifices... parenting... the importance of values but not losing sight of humanity and friendship... enduring... surprising... disappointing and across party lines... Ignore what you hear and go see it. No matter what... it will get you talking after the movie.

Excellent script, wonderful timing, perfect casting. Too bad we don't have more serious thrillers. I loved this film.