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Robert Redford, aside from being one of the great old "icons" of American cinema, is also someone deeply convinced of his political ideas. For years, he has carried forward his democratic visions. In the US, one might say "a man on the left." Just to consider his most recent works, it would be enough to mention "Lions for Lambs" and "The Conspirator," which delineate a well-defined thematic groove. Starting from that foundational setup and a classic idea of cinema, the now over-seventy Redford constructs "The Company You Keep," his latest work dated 2012.
Based on the novel by Neil Gordon (with a screenplay by Lem Dobbs), the film carries the cultural and content backpack of his previous works: the mix of politics and morality, the critique, the almost nostalgic gaze towards the past, as well as the almost historiographical curiosity to delve into long-standing issues of American history (in this sense, it is worth recalling the reconstruction work done for the splendid "The Conspirator"). In this case, we are not in Lincoln's America, but in the sterile rooms of contemporary times. The connection with politics and history this time is represented by the movement that called itself "Weather Underground." An expression of left-wing extremism, it became known for its opposition to the Vietnam War, support for African Americans of the Black Panther Party, as well as for using violence as a means to achieve certain political ends. A robbery gone wrong is the film's trigger, with the protagonists being sought by the FBI over thirty years after the event.
Robert Redford is tied to a "classic" cinematic style increasingly difficult to trace, yet despite this, "The Company You Keep" has a good pace without needing to push too hard on the thriller aspect. No explosions, no chases. This is not Redford's cinema. The Californian filmmaker sets up a modern "road movie" investigation, once again delving into the analysis of the political approach with which new generations view the world, represented by the young journalist Ben (Shia LaBeouf). He has to deal with a boss who doesn't have much faith in his work, but he is also and most importantly the symbol of a "new generation" that has lost the fighting ideals that fueled the past, and when confronted with them, he's uncomfortable in a world he doesn't know. Emblematic in this sense is the phrase uttered by a university professor, "one click on Facebook, and they forget everything."
A film devoid of any baroque elements, Redford's latest effort fits into a journey that the director has been defining for quite some time. The nostalgia for that past of struggles and ideals, the pessimistic awareness of a filmmaker who has now verified the tragic indifference of the contemporary world. A vision that emerges very clearly, but which intertwines with a certain tendency towards sentimentalism (especially in the latter part of the film) that clashes with the "cold" framework established up to that point. The family and romantic implications that erupt towards the end clash with a structure that doesn't seem adequately prepared to accommodate them. Perhaps for this reason, the film never fully manages to dive deep, remaining in the limbo of a "simple" yet well-crafted political drama.
"The Company You Keep" is a sort of "documentary" on the different ways of observing current society by both the old and new generations. The usual excellent Redford, perhaps just older and more tired.
Based on the novel by Neil Gordon (with a screenplay by Lem Dobbs), the film carries the cultural and content backpack of his previous works: the mix of politics and morality, the critique, the almost nostalgic gaze towards the past, as well as the almost historiographical curiosity to delve into long-standing issues of American history (in this sense, it is worth recalling the reconstruction work done for the splendid "The Conspirator"). In this case, we are not in Lincoln's America, but in the sterile rooms of contemporary times. The connection with politics and history this time is represented by the movement that called itself "Weather Underground." An expression of left-wing extremism, it became known for its opposition to the Vietnam War, support for African Americans of the Black Panther Party, as well as for using violence as a means to achieve certain political ends. A robbery gone wrong is the film's trigger, with the protagonists being sought by the FBI over thirty years after the event.
Robert Redford is tied to a "classic" cinematic style increasingly difficult to trace, yet despite this, "The Company You Keep" has a good pace without needing to push too hard on the thriller aspect. No explosions, no chases. This is not Redford's cinema. The Californian filmmaker sets up a modern "road movie" investigation, once again delving into the analysis of the political approach with which new generations view the world, represented by the young journalist Ben (Shia LaBeouf). He has to deal with a boss who doesn't have much faith in his work, but he is also and most importantly the symbol of a "new generation" that has lost the fighting ideals that fueled the past, and when confronted with them, he's uncomfortable in a world he doesn't know. Emblematic in this sense is the phrase uttered by a university professor, "one click on Facebook, and they forget everything."
A film devoid of any baroque elements, Redford's latest effort fits into a journey that the director has been defining for quite some time. The nostalgia for that past of struggles and ideals, the pessimistic awareness of a filmmaker who has now verified the tragic indifference of the contemporary world. A vision that emerges very clearly, but which intertwines with a certain tendency towards sentimentalism (especially in the latter part of the film) that clashes with the "cold" framework established up to that point. The family and romantic implications that erupt towards the end clash with a structure that doesn't seem adequately prepared to accommodate them. Perhaps for this reason, the film never fully manages to dive deep, remaining in the limbo of a "simple" yet well-crafted political drama.
"The Company You Keep" is a sort of "documentary" on the different ways of observing current society by both the old and new generations. The usual excellent Redford, perhaps just older and more tired.
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