Review of The Company You Keep (2012) by John C — 11 May 2013

The "Company You Keep" starts with Sharon Solarz(Susan Sarandon) being arrested by an FBI team led by agent Cornelius(Terrence Howard) for a decades old bank robbery and murder. Albany Times Union reporter Ben Shepard(Shia LaBeouf) connects the dots to Billy Cusimano(Stephen Root), a local businessman, who leads him to Jim Grant(Robert Redford, who also directed), a public interest lawyer, widower and father to 11-year old Isabel(Jackie Evancho). When Shepard confronts him about his refusal to represent Solarz, Grant refuses to comment. What he is willing to do instead is make a break for it with Isabel, before the temperature gets any hotter.

While a little judicious editing would have done wonders, especially with the anti-climactic ending, "The Company You Keep" does have a once in a lifetime cast that always keeps things interesting, even if the story does not do the same.(It would take less time to list who is not in the movie than who is.) Overall, that allows for different perspectives on the same events. Specifically and surprisingly, Shia LaBeouf holds his own, at least until Brit Marling shows up on the screen and right before Richard Jenkins gives Robert Redford acting lessons.

As far as issues go, the movie is less interested in politics than the current state of the newspaper business, often crossing the line between trying to impart knowledge and haranguing.(I'm still trying to decide how ironic the ubiquitous product placement is supposed to be.) A lot of the target of this is Shepard, as he tracks down the story and collects the facts. But isn't that what he is supposed to be doing as a reporter?