I doubt there will be a finer cast in a film this year, and I am sure its intentions are honest and virtuous, but the new film by Robert Redford is a near complete bore. As a suspense film, it is inert beyond belief; a narcotized chase movie with the pace and spirit of an aging tortoise. This is a problem because it is structured and presented as an arm-clenching "ride," one turning on a former member of a violent protest group (modeled on the Weather Underground) who abandons his false identity and goes on the run after a journalist uncovers his past, even if its true interest is providing a lecture on the spirit of protest in America in the sixties and the ways in which it soared and failed. So the final result is a strange blend of uninspired cat-and-mouse moments and sledgehammer-didactic, long-winded conversations which never form a cohesive or persuasive whole. Tried-and-true veterans such as Julie Christie, Chris Cooper, and Susan Sarandon land a few punches, as does bright up-and-coming star Brit Marling, but there is a sense almost each member of the cast, besides Redford and Shia LaBeouf, is underutilized, present more out of respect for Redford than a real understanding of or commitment to the project. I believe there are interesting and valuable ideas laced throughout this film. A few great scenes, too. A shame then the enterprise is so uneven and so beholden to a cobweb encrusted mode of storytelling.

C

Indeed. It is a shame. I tend to enjoy Redford's directorial efforts, too, such as The Horse Whisperer and The Conspirator. I admire in many ways his non-ironic love of left-wing politics and Americana. I just found this particular one to be a wash.

Well I've produced a soft-spot for Redford since watching Lions for Lambs, and when I saw the trailer for this, it just looked very good. I hope I can still enjoy it.

I actually liked this a lot, especially the first hour. It starts to drag in the second act but the performances are all on point throughout, especially Brit Marling, Susan Sarandon, Shia LaBeouf and Chris Cooper. B+

I agree with Thompson that it could have been trimmed up a little bit but I actually loved this. The performances are all great and I was interested through the entire thing. It's a nice adult suspense flick. It actually reminded me a bit of the criminally underrated The Life of David Gale.

8/10

The Company You Keep

I'm really loving Robert Redford's recent directorial streak. Lions for Lambs is great, and so is this. Then he has the brilliantly acted and original All is Lost too!

Sure, this isn't as fast-paced as the Bourne series has told us that these investigative thrillers should be, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. The construct of piecing things together and finding clues, however obvious the outcome is, was cool. Shia played a good, if clichéd, reporter come PI. The film has a long string of known names popping up in almost every scene, and the film is just a delight to watch. Finding political criminals from the past is a great concept, but I wish they had explored the role of the government more, and how they were and are criminals in their own right.

B+