Few movies do rural places well w/o lapsing into hick stereotypes. Sean Penn and Walken both act their tails off, this being before each became a caricature. For me, this movie was great for Penn on the way from "Racing With the Moon" to "Colors" a few years later. He catches an adolescent macho vibe that is very charismatic. (I think Mary Stuart Masterson is cute and non-threatening as the love interest. Somebody like Diane Lane would really have bumped it a notch, though!) Dark? Oh, yeah...it's not Faulkner, but Kazan puts great lines in mouths of champion weirdos like Tracey Walther. If you grew up in PA and don't feel this movie, "Flashdance" and "All The Right Moves" back to back won't get you there.
Review of At Close Range
