The Company You Keep
Starring: Robert Redford, Shia LaBeouf, Susan Sarandon
Directed By: Robert Redford
Reviewed by Danielle Muir
[rating: 4/5]
Robert Redford’s back in prime form with his latest directorial effort The Company You Keep, a steady paced but gripping crime/drama. Presenting the rarely explored area of people held accountable for crimes committed in their youth and the impact that simple journalism can have on a crime, this film’s success is due to the coupling of characters with intriguing motives and calculated timing.
The backstory is brilliant – in the 1970s activist group ‘The Weather Underground’ staged a bank robbery resulting in the shooting death of a policeman. 30 years later, Sharon Solarz (Sarandon) – fugitive of the state, turns herself in for the same crime and requests only to speak to young journalist Ben Shepard (LaBeouf) whose been uncovering information about the group and the true identity of ‘Nick Sloan’ – another long term fugitive. In a fantastic scene between Solarz and Shepard, events are set in motion that causes the real Sloan’s cover blown and a chase throughout America, causing him to turn to each of the underground Weathermen once more.
Traversing through gorgeous rural and small-town America makes The Company You Keep easy on the eyes as well as the mind – each shot is expertly crafted but perfectly subdued – similar to the storytelling. Laced with some killer dialogue (the scene where Sarandon explains her activist reasoning to an on-edge LaBeouf is mouthwatering) and equally perfect characterisation, the film acts as a puzzle, with Shepard uncovering each piece in his initial attempt at journalistic credit than seamlessly transitions into an unquenchable thirst for the truth. It’s fascinating how Sloan (Redford) and Shepard’s lives becomes so intertwined with each snippet uncovered and article published – however their characters meet only thrice. LaBeouf’s arrogance and dry wit is very similar to other character’s he’s portrayed however he does his part well, as always, and plants the seeds. Redford himself plays it pretty straight, with the focus on his motives and secret rather than extensive characterisation but is never bland. However I was aching for more Sarandon – her sharp-tongued, steadfast opinion stealing the show.
The Company You Keep is an extremely solid crime/drama that feeds you just enough titbits to keep you guessing. Refreshingly, this one comes without explosions and gun battles, rather relying on an intriguing script to hold your interest. Made with care and attention to detail, this is very calculated filmmaking.
