A rural crime noir with operatic overtones - At Close Range is driven by Christopher Walken’s seductive and casually cruel performance of a small town gang leader.
The aimless youth of this rural Pennsylvania town don’t have much to do and not much hope for the any future. But even the meager material advantages convey so much status and confidence that you can feel the power of even this two-bit thief.
Sean Penn’s performance turns on the conflict between good and evil within himself. And yet his sacrifices feel more necessary than heroic. Is it worth it in this life or the next?
Loved that “Live to Tell” (a top 5 Madonna song IMHO) is basically the score.
A true lost classic.
I thought about this film the other day. Some 80’s cheese. But Sean Penn and Christopher Walken are great! Especially Walken. And a rather bizarre performance by Chris Penn