Film Review - The Company You Keep - Robert Redford

Robert Redford and Richard Jenkins - The Company You keep

Robert Redford is considered to be one of the most political filmmakers of his generation and his latest film as producer, director and as a lead actor falls well within that template. The film is a fictional story although based on a real life left-wing radical group known as the Weathermen or Weather Underground Organisation (WUO) which operated in the United States during the late 1960s to the mid 1970s. Formed at the University of Michigan, the group was connected with bombing attacks against US Government buildings and violent demonstrations. The film takes place many decades later when all the former radicals have disappeared into ordinary suburban life which is upended when one of their number decides to turn herself in to the FBI. A young newspaper journalist sees the opportunity to make a name for himself and starts pursuing his own investigation into one of the former group leaders who is now on the run. The film features a stellar cast including, (in addition to Redford),  Susan Sarandon, Julie Christie, Shia LaBoef, Brendan Gleeson, Anna Kendrick, Richard Jenkins, Nick Nolte, Chris Cooper and Stanley Tucci. The film explores the motives and methods of making a stand in political issues and the choices people make when confronting those situations. In keeping with many Redford films there is considerable proselytising however it is within tolerable limits.