Pretty intense film

Hi guys,

I first seen this film back in 1988...and wow what a cracker.
The fact that it was based on a true story...and that the Whitwood gang did exist made it even more compelling to watch...they were called the Johnston gang...Bruce senior johnston was the boss....5 teenagers were slane.
The actual real story is as dark as the movie...Bruce senior recently died in prison...
Sean Penn acts his socks off...and that take some doing when your acting with Walken who also plays a great part.
Great soundtrack also....Man Sean Penn must have done some serious weightlifting for this role Ray Kaybratas had pumped his arms up to obscene size.

Bruce junior who was shot several times and lived..is now on a witness protection program

Cheers

Martin

I'm 43 years old. In my life, I've known and grown-up around people like Brad Whitewood Sr. Many want to think that people like this only exist in movies-the fact that THIS movie is based on fact proves that such people do exist. Quite simply, people like Brad Whitewood are PREDATORS in EVERY sense of the word.
The "buzz" about this movie in 1986 was the relationship between Madonna and Sean Penn. It was a time when Penn was punching alot of tabloid photographers and getting into assorted (minor) legal scuffles. Another post on this site begs the question: "why doesn't Sean Penn get the recognition...", my take on this is because he alienated the media in the early years of his career. I remember reading more about the "Live to Tell" soundtrack of this movie than the actual movie, itself. Such was the power of Madonna in 1986.
Get a good look at this film, because this was the kind of movie you could find before "Hollywood" became a dirty word in the film industry. There are no special effects, sequels, CGI, prosthesis, or body-doubles in this movie. What there IS: a great setting, with great actors, and above all- a great script. Take a close look at the sets, the way the characters are dressed, the drinking and cigarettes, the cars and trucks- all are faithful to a place in the south that some of us have visited- and many have grown up in.
At Close Range certainly has its weaknesses. Christopher Walken is not one of them. He occasionally is accused of over-acting, but I saw no evidence of it in this performance. Penn liked to under-play characters in his early work, and the characterization of Brad jr.- particularly when viewed next to the powerful portrayal by Walken, makes for an emotionally unsettling film.
(obviously)- I really enjoyed it.

It's not the easiest watch, but the film is completely riveting.

Yes this is the original film that highlighted Sean Penn's skill and talent as an actor. Christopher Walken is superb in his role as well.

Those scenes with the boys being taken out at night (and you know what happens) still chill me today, whenever I watch this film.

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AT CLOSE RANGE is a masterpiece,an heartbreaking film with wonderful performances and great visuals and music...underrated,it is really one of the best films of the 80's.

And it is also my favorite Sean Penn performance and film ever.

Def intense. High stakes. Awesome tragedy. Pitch perfect drama. Great film. Great sound track. Films like Drive only wish they were this good, though I enjoyed Drive.


If your hair is on fire, you need to act like your hair is on fire. - Senator Nina Turner