It's A Family Affair

"If it's blood, don't break it." - Brad Whitewood Sr.

I first saw At Close Range back in 1987 and it has haunted me ever since. When I think of criminally slept on, highly underrated films- this one immediately comes to mind. The current that runs through this movie are the electrifying performances by Christopher Walken, both Penn brothers, (Sean and Chris) and a shining supporting cast. It's tough to fairly assess At Close Range if you don't catch the subtle details that are sheer genius. Brad's grandmother, played by Penn's real mother Eileen Ryan, is phenomenal in her quiet distrust. Crispin Glover (ever the weirdo, even as George McFly) reminds you of that friend who was always a little off but was tolerated by the rest of the crew for some unknown reason. But make no mistake. Walken is the powerhouse of this outfit.




Walken's role as Brad Whitewood Sr. is one of his most disturbing and unnerving to date. He always plays a great villain, but what makes this turn so scary is how real he is. Aside from the fact the it's based on a true story- I know that people like this really exist. Charming. A cool exterior. Friendly but something dangerous lurking just beneath the surface. And they don't need a whole helluva lot to unlock that dark side.



The story is centered around Brad Jr. played flawlessly by Sean Penn. He's a simple kid- bored silly living in a simple town and that's where the simplicity ends. One day his estranged father suddenly breezes back into his life after several years. His apprehension is matched only by his elation that the man actually wants anything to do with him. It's obvious from the start that the connection is imbalanced. Brad Sr. has his reasons for dropping in the way he does. Situations soon reveal themselves to be lawless and deadly before Junior has a chance to catch his breath.



What I cherish most about this movie are the emotions it sparks. Do you remember when you first met someone and liked them? I mean really liked them. You tried your best to play it cool but it was a fruitless effort. You couldn't wait to see them. A voice on the phone made your heart skip a beat. Then it hit you that you wanted to be with this person on all counts. It's the kind of film that makes you look back on your own experiences and wonder whether you should be somewhat disdained or just plain grateful that these kind of raw feelings never gripped you.





I can't speak for the bond between a father and a son. But I do feel that there is part of every man, no matter how old he gets, that will always miss a warmth which only that particular relationship can bring. And this movie shows how that journey can be truncated by abandonment, selfishness and greed. It's a very real look at a twisted amalgamation of the human condition. A gem that should be polished off every now and then. Rent it now. Thank me later.