At Close Range (1986)
Starring: Sean Penn, Christopher Walken, Mary Stuart
Masterson, Crispin Glover, Christopher Penn
Company: Twilight Time
My Review and Thoughts:
Film: 5/5
I was super excited to learn this was finally coming to
Blu-ray. This is a very underrated and underappreciated film. Thankfully Twilight
Time Blu-ray saw the beauty of this important piece of cinema. They lovingly
bring it out on their Special Edition 3,000 Unit production Blu-rays. They have
mastered yet again another amazing product.
This stars one of the greatest living actors, Christopher
Walken, and also the amazing Sean Penn. This is a gritty crime thriller. A
great acted trip into the world of the criminal nature. Guns and crime, and
most of all, a sense of drama. Two brothers, a horrible father and the nature
of being bad, come full force, for the viewer watching.
The cast is thick and the performances are something to
remember. This is based on a true story. The setting starts out in 1978. Brad
(Sean Penn) and Tommy (Christopher Penn) are two young brothers with no real
direction in life, imprisoned in a local small country setting, and wanting to
escape. Drinking, drugs, no rules, and no purpose, leads down one bad path,
after another.
One day their missing father, Brad Sr. (Christopher Walken),
who they have never met, ends up showing up, out of the blue. Soon Brad and
father are hanging out. Daddy is a criminal, a thief, and Brad, seeking a
father and wishing for more, and most of all, a way out of his small life, gets
pulled into his father's lifestyle.
You can’t help but feel sorry for Brad and Tommy lost in
this town.
The acting by Sean Penn and Walken is stunning.
Soon the money is sweet, and the temptation runs wild. Brad
wants to join with his father and his gang of other criminal’s. The care free
nature of being young, stupid and lost.
Brad falls in love with a local girl named Terry and seems
to find a purpose in life, when they are together as a couple. Soon, Brad gets
the full force of his father's darker nature. Murder comes into the play. The
movie is a dark tale of the nature and the nurture aspect of destroying
innocence. No guidance, no morality.
Brad does not enjoy the darker nature of his father, and
decides he has had enough.
The musical score give’s an already haunting film, a true
impact of a darker nature. The music, and cinematography give it an in-depth
feel of dread, and sorrow. The very nature of watching Brad Sr. and his goons
take out teenagers, and blow them away without mercy, is truly a disturbing reality.
The fact that this movie is true makes it even more horrible
to know. The stark reality to senseless death, and betrayal of one’s own blood,
is what makes this film worth remembering, and worth recommending.
The final showdown between father and son in the kitchen at
the end, is a filmed masterpiece moment. I can’t say enough that Penn gives a
stunning performance throughout the film.
I think the moment that stands out to me, is when the court
questions Brad Jr. This moment is acting perfection by Penn. Penn's acting
performance of bringing tears, and an all-out built up emotional moment, is truly
a priceless, stunning experience that this viewer will never forget.
This 1986 crime drama is truly a memorable film that I think
more people should see.
Christopher Walken captures the true character of Bruce
Alfred Johnston Senior, who is the basis of the film. The real Bruce was
convicted of six consecutive life terms, one attempted murder and theft. Bruce
was the leader of the gang that started in Pennsylvania in the 1960's and was
rounded up in 1978 after his son testified against him, which is the basis of
the film.
The real gang which had a wide network mainly in Chester
County, Pennsylvania, but also had ties to Lancaster County, Maryland, and also
Delaware. They stole antiques all the way too drugs. They were not a
disorganized group. They were not backwoods bumpkins. They all had their role.
Gang members had skills at picking locks, cracking safes, disarming security
systems. They had lookouts, and police scanners, walkie-talkies. They also
would use a ruse by phoning false reports to get the police to look elsewhere.
Now the Kiddy Gang as it was known was formed in 1977 which
was ran by Bruce Seniors son. Sean Penn plays this character in the movie. The
gang formed and created a whole new atmosphere of stealing small time garden
tractors, cigarettes and other items that could be stolen and quickly moved.
The gang was all under the age of 25 years old, and the
youngest being 15 years old. Bruce Junior a.k.a. Brad in the movie, while
spending time in prison for petty crimes in the summer of 1977 found out his
girlfriend Robin Miller was raped by his dad. This infuriated Bruce Junior and
he agreed to testify against his father, he was 20 years old at the time.
This would lead to a horrifying crime dealt out by his
father, and the gang. Leaving six dead, an investigation, arrest, and a trial,
all memorable in the annuals of crime history.
This is in all regards a very horrifying true story of one
father, and his massacre. There's deep mysteries involved with the subject
matter, some even believe there was many more victims.
Three of those murdered was, Wayne Sampson 20 years old,
Duane Lincoln, 17 years old and James Johnston, 18 years old. These murders are
shown, in a vivid, horrifying moment in the film, as they are led into a field,
unknowing what is to happen. They disappeared in August 77-78, shot and buried,
along the infamous Devils road/Cult house road, along the Northern Delaware,
Pennsylvania border in Pennsbury Township, Pennsylvania. Interesting to note,
the 2004 film, The Village was filmed in that location.
Bruce Alfred Johnston Senior was a true folk lore, type
criminal, amazingly, he will always be remembered for his heinous crime, and
this movie showcases this part of criminal history. He passed away in August 8,
2002.
I have often felt this is an overlooked and underrated
movie. Also I feel this is an overlooked and underrated crime. I think it's one
of those crimes, that should be remembered for the stark reality, of how
violent, it was, and how these members of this gang, family members, went under
the radar for so long from 1972, all the way up to the 1980's.
Whatever the case, if you go into this wanting to learn the
true crime aspect, then it works, if you go into this wanting a great filmed
movie, it works. Sean Penn and Christopher Walken are truly stunning and
amazing in this film.
Another stunning reality to this film is the direction by
James Foley. Foley gives true meaning to the form, movie director. Foley has
been over looked and underrated in his career. He has had some hits and misses.
At Close Range was his second feature as director. He also directed the amazing
1992 film, Glengarry Glen Rose, which Al Pacino was nominated for an Academy
Award. Foley is still directing today, most recently for the Series, House of
Cards, and as of this writing has been pinned to directing, Fifty Shades Darker,
the sequel to Fifty Shades of Grey.
This was written by Nicholas Kazan. Kazan is an interesting
writer of stories that is able to add that real life feel and setting to the
story being display. Kazan also wrote one of my other favorite films that I
feel is gravely overlooked, 1998’s Fallen starring Denzel Washington. Like At
Close Range, Fallen adds that darkness that is displayed in At Close Range. At
Close Range adds the real life reality through the writing of the script,
penned excellent by Nicholas Kazan.
As mentioned I have to give huge shout outs to Juan Ruiz
Anchia for the cinematography. This is a stunning example of how to create this
reality in film. The tight, dark and, small town, nightmarish criminal nature
is weaved together through this clarity of film making. Anchia gave this film a
truly stark imagery through the lens of the film camera. The dark shots of heinous
acts in the film are flawlessly displayed with a craftsmanship that stands out.
He also worked on Glengarry Glen Rose with James Foley.
Twilight Time has done this film justice. A Blu-ray that stands
out in beautiful picture transfer and High Definition.
Audio/Video: 5/5
An amazing 1080p High Definition 2.35:1 for this film seems
like a new experience all over again.
This has never looked any better. The imagery is utterly
fantastic. Crisp, crystal clear. A beautiful transfer. The sound is equally
vibrant and pure ear candy. This is a lovely blu-ray and deserves all the
accolades if can get.
The audio is 2.0 DTS-HD MA
Extras: 3/5
An awesome audio commentary with the director James Foley
and also with Film Historian Nick Redman. An utterly fantastic listen.
The very important isolated score. As I have mentioned the
music gives it such a haunting experience. Patrick Leonard is a true gift to the music world. His songwriting and music
producing has left a true stable in the music world. He still is kicking it
today, showcasing dynamic music. He has worked most of his career with the music
icon and legend, Madonna. He has graced the music world with many collaborations
with such gifted and iconic musicians as, Elton John, Michael W. Smith, Rod Stewart,
Leonard Cohan, Bryan Adams, Jewel, and many, upon many others. At Close Range
was actually his first composing for a film. His music has been used on many
soundtracks in the TV and film world. As of this writing over 90 productions.
He adds such a darkness to At Close Range that truly leaves, massive imagery in your thoughts, long after the film is over; that is way the music to At Close Range is
a pivotal, important reality to this film. Twilight Time did a wonderful job
bringing the isolated music score to this special edition Blu-ray.
Original Theatrical Trailer.
Also the wonderful insert booklet by Film Historian Julia
Kirgo, always a fantastic read. She is a true film historian that knows and
spreads the love of cinema. These little booklets are very important in my
viewpoint.
Overall:
This is a must own product. High class Blu-ray of an
excellent film. I highly recommend this film, if you haven't seen it.
INFO:
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