The Company You Keep (2013)

Did you people see the same film I saw?

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Robert Redford has a secret: for the past thirty years, he's been living a lie. He was once part of the Weather Underground, but he changed his identity and has lived a peaceful life after deciding to distance himself from the militant group. Now, his former friend has been arrested for a decades-old crime and he's in danger of being arrested as an accomplice. So, he packs up his young daughter, the adorable Jackie Evancho, and flees! Shia LaBeouf plays a young, upstart reporter who makes life difficult for Robert Redford, but as unlikable as Shia is, Bob is correspondingly likable. Bob is always trustworthy, and he and Jackie are very sweet together. Be on the lookout for dozens of familiar faces, who no doubt latched onto the casting notices for a chance to work with Redford, who also directed the film. Susan Sarandon, Julie Christie, Stanley Tucci, Nick Nolte, Chris Cooper, Richard Jenkins, Terrence Howard, Brendan Gleeson, and Sam Elliot make up the all-star cast.If you liked Sneakers, but secretly hoped for a dramatic version, you'll love The Company You Keep. This exciting flick is going to make you pay attention, and the many cameos, political message, thoughtful directing, and social commentary fit in with all the greatness you'd expect out of a Robert Redford movie.

Robert Redford's The Company You Keep is a powerful, smart, grounded drama revolving around the seriousness of one's actions, the consequences they may make even decades down the road, and the lengths that some people will go to put things right. Redford has shown only improvement throughout his career, and has been really awesome as of late (All Is Lost was a favourite for me) and he directs here with as much confidence and empathy as he puts into his performance. He plays Nick Sloan, a former underground activist who was involved in a tragic accident as a result of his protesting, and branded a domestic terrorist. He went into hiding for nearly 30 years, until an intrepid journalist (Shia Lebeouf) uncovers traces of his tracks, and he's forced to go on the run, leaving his young daughter with his brother (Chris Cooper). Lebeouf suspects his agenda is to do more than just hide, and indefinitely stay on the run. A federal agent (Terrence Howard) makes it his tunnel vision mission to find him. Sloan's agenda only gradually becomes clear to us, as he navigates a tricky, treacherous web of former acquaintances, trying to locate his former lover and fellow activist (Julie Christie, phenomenal in a comeback of sorts). Old wounds are slashed open, the law closes in, and Nick wrestles with the notion that despite the good he tried to do in his idealistic youth, he is indirectly responsible for bloodshed. It's enthralling to watch Redford play this man in his twilight years trying to put things right, waist deep in decades of acting experience, supported by an amazing script and a supporting cast that you couldn't dream up . There's memorable appearances from Stanley Tucci, Richard Jenkins, Brit Marling, Stephen Root, Susan Sarandon, Anna Kendrick, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Elliott, Susan Hogan and Nick Nolte, all in top form. For a thriller that takes itself seriously, takes its time building character and suspense, and sets itself in a realistic, believable tale that completely engrosses you, look no further.

Probably one of Robert Redford's lesser works, THE COMPANY YOU KEEP is still a riveting (but slow-moving) political thriller. The film is about a Weather Underground activist (Redford) who goes on the run after being outed by an intrepid journalist (LaBeouf). The strengths of the film lie in the performances, and there are quite a few well-known character actors who make short appearances which complement the strong central performances by Redford and LaBeouf. Despite being a political thriller, they manage to make the subject personal. Instead of just dealing with a bunch of abstract ideas about "fighting the system" and standing up for what's right, they incorporate concepts of family and the greater good. I did like how the movie was ambiguous when it came to these types of things, because movies can get preachy when they aren't, and this movie isn't preachy. One thing I would say is a downside is that LaBeouf's character doesn't get much of an arc, even though he's the lens through the audience is intended to view most of the story. Redford's character is given better treatment, and is given the ending he deserves however. The pacing is rather slow, but not inconsistent, although this might put off some viewers who don't take well to slow-burn films. Still, Redford (also directing) makes sure to keep things interesting. The score and cinematography are also well-done, but not particularly exceptional. Overall, for people who like political thrillers this should do just fine. However, Redford does seem to have mellowed out in his old age (and him playing the father of a 12-year-old was kind of weird), and it lacks the punch of a lot of his earlier work. Still, it makes for a good watch.

The Company You Keep welcomes back Robert Redford to the director's chair and compared to his other films, this thriller seems more low-key and it arrives with less fanfare. Now not a fan of politics, I am keenly aware of Redford's political thoughts and thus his stance as a moderate liberal gives this film a conscience. In other words, it's a tense thriller that talks about an important part of our history which is practically the unrest the Vietnam War caused in this country.Robert Redford's film is about a former Weather Underground radical leader named Jim Grant who has been discovered after thirty years of being on the run as he was accused of a bank robbery. Now he is on the run and is forced to meet with old associates of his to prove his innocence and he also has to face the aggressive newspaper reporter named Ben Shepard.This film must have set a record for how many big names appear in this movie. I've never seen so many Oscar-nominated actors and actresses appear in one film. But for the most part, they all do well despite the majority of them having small screentimes. Robert Redford is still a great actor at his age. Since everyone from Susan Sarandon to Stanley Tucci to Brendan Gleeson all do well, I will only mention the weakest actor here and that is Shia LaBeouf. He was annoying at times and he couldn't catch up to everyone's starpower here.Overall, The Company You Keep is a quiet, slow-burning thriller but it has some political questions to ask and for the kind of thriller it is, it's very sharp. It's well-written and features heavy dialogue. I wouldn't call this a cliché thriller since there were some unexpected surprises. It did a good job on holding my interest and I actually learned a thing or two about American history. I rate this film 9/10.