At Close Range: Collector's Edition – MVD Rewind Collection (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1986
Director: James Foley
Writers: Elliott Lewitt, Nicholas Kazan
Cast: Sean Penn, Christopher Walken, Mary Stuart Masterson, Chris Penn, Millie Perkins, Eileen Ryan, Tracey Walter, Candy Clark, Kiefer Sutherland, Crispin Glover, Noelle Parker, Alan Autry

Release Date: November 1st, 2022
Approximate running time: 115 Minutes 46 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: LPCM Stereo English, Dolby Digital Stereo English, Dolby Digital Mono French, Dolby Digital Mono Spanish
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Juvenile delinquent Brad Whitewood, Jr. (Penn) knows about petty theft, but he wants big money - enough to blow the lid off his boring life, enough to get out of town and to find his ol' man (Walken). He wants to be like his dad, a big-time thief, who knows "the business." Seductive and sinister, Brad's father is full of toxic wisdom that makes his illicit life appear eerily sexy. But when Brad witnesses his father deliberately killing someone, he realizes he may not only be in over his head... he may also lose it for good." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

At Close Range comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 32.1 GB

Feature: 30.4 GB

The source used for this transfer looks like the same source Twilight Time used for their Blu-ray. That said, the source is in very good shape. Colors and flesh tones look correct, image clarity and compression are strong, and the image retains an organic look. While black levels leave room for improvement, there are some moments where black crush is noticeable.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with four audio options, a LPCM stereo mix in English; a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English; a Dolby Digital mono mix in French; and a Dolby Digital mono mix in Spanish. For this review, I only listened to the LPCM stereo track, which sounds great. Dialog always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Included with this release are removable English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an option to listen to the isolated score track, an audio commentary with director James Foley, and moderated by Nick Redman, and a collectible mini-poster, a limited edition slipcover (first pressing only).

Other extras include trailers for The Chocolate Wars, Panther, Miami Blues, Desperate Hours, and Disturbing Behavior.

Summary:

At Close Range is a neo-noir film that is based on a true story. And though most films based on true stories are known to make changes for cinematic reasons, any of these changes in At Close Range are minimal, and they never dilute the core of the story at hand. Another strength of At Close Range is how it never approaches the story at hand in a heavy-handed way.

The narrative revolves around a troubled young man who reconnects with his estranged father, who is a well-known criminal. Along the way, the two forge a bond when the father brings his son into the fold of criminal activities. Things start to fall apart when the son meets a girl and the father loses control over his son. Fearing his son will turn on him, the father is forced to take drastic measures.

Casting is essential; it can make or break a film. Fortunately, At Close Range has a solid cast who all excel in their roles, no matter how small they are. That said, it is Sean Penn (Carlito’s Way) in the role of Brad Jr., and Christopher Walken (The Dead Zone) in the role of Brad Sr., who carry At Close Range. The father-son dynamic is engrossing. Their performances elevate everyone who shares a scene with them.

At Close Range is a story that quickly draws you in, holds your attention, and culminates with a sensational ending where the son confronts the father. All around, there is not an area where At Close Range does not excel. Besides phenomenal performances from its two leads, other areas that stand out are the visuals and James Foley’s direction, which brings the true story alive by letting the characters take center stage. Ultimately, At Close Range is a powerful tale about betrayal that proves that blood is not always thicker than water.

At Close Range gets a new Blu-ray release from MVD Rewind Collection that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an informative audio commentary, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer