Review: The Company You Keep

Director: Robert Redford

Written By: Lem Dobbs

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Robert Redford, Julie Christie

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Rated: R

Brief Overview: The story of wanted felons from the "Weather Underground" group from the early 90's being discovered by a journalist (Shia LeBeouf) and being hunted down by the authorities. 

Following is the trailer for The Company You Keep.

It has been a busy last few weeks. I mention in my profile that I play college baseball. Playing in Minnesota this year was really crazy and no one will probably ever experience a season like this again. We got snow all the way into May so all of our games were getting post poned. I feel like in the last week the only place I have been is a baseball field. Because of that it took me a while to get this review written on a movie I really enjoyed. 

Once again I gathered my movie buds up and we headed off to our favorite theatre where movies are only five bucks. After our usual Walgreens stop for candy we went into the theatre and I still hadn't told them what we were gonna see. When I told them we were gonna see The Company You Keep they weren't too happy but after the movie ended they were on the same page as me and ended up loving it. 

I will start off by saying this is not an action packed, fast moving, thriller. So if that is what you are wanting or expecting you might want to give this movie a pass. This is a slow moving drama in which we follow the aftermath story of a fictional happening. 

The beginning of the movie shows us real life clips from the early 90's of a group known as the "Weather Underground." The "Weathermen" were a group of radicals that are known for their many bombings and riots here in the United States. This is the where the movie begins. We are met with the story of how there was a bank robbery 30 years before where a security guard was shot and killed and the people responsible had never been caught. 

Right after the brief history lesson we are brought to modern day, about 30 years later, where we meet one of the people who was a part of the bank robbery. Sharon Solarz, who was part of the bank robbery group, is headed to supposedly turn herself in when FBI surrounds her at a gas station and arrests her. This fresh arrest of such a big name criminal, from so long ago, sparks interest in a local journalist named Ben Shepard (Shia LeBeouf) and his not so sure boss assigns him to follow up on the story. 

Ben Shepard just so happens to have a connection to someone in the FBI. That someone is his ex-girlfriend. Luckily they still keep in touch so he has an in with someone who has real and valid information. After telling Shepard some things she probably shouldn't, Ben ends up being in the right place at the right time (many of times) and ends up shining some light as to the where a bouts of the remaining robbery group members. 

From the beginning of the movie to the end you as a viewer get to watch the story unfold and meet all of the members of the robbery group and learn details about their character. In the end after the pretty exciting chases and manhunts there is some unexpected twists that you will not see coming. 

I would recommend this movie to all audiences. It is a fun and exciting movie that also gives somewhat of a real life history lesson. I also am a big Shia LaBeouf fan (partially from the show Even Stevens) which also made this movie enjoyable seeing as he was a lead role. 

Personal Ranking: 7 out of 10

"One of few history lessons I have enjoyed..."