Through my life I have seen some films that have left a serious impression on me, so much so that I have not forgotten those films.
Off the top of my head they include Fire In the Sky, Scarface, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and At Close Range... to name a few.
I recently watched At Close Range again, having not seen it since the 80s and it was still fresh in my head. The thing that got me was when I found out that the movie was loosely based on a true story. They don't use the names of that crime family, in fact Christopher Walken's character is simply referred to as Brad Senior and his son Brad Junior.
The story revolves around a crime family who are subpoenaed to testify in front of a Grant Jury. Brad Sr. Trusts nobody, not even his own kids, so he wants to see to it that he's not incriminated.
From the last time I saw it (4 decades ago), I still remember the main members of the cast: Christopher Walken, Sean Penn, his brother (in real life and in the movie) Christopher, along with Sean's girlfriend Mary Stuart Masterson.
Watching it again I saw Millie Perkins (Diary of Anne Frank), David Strathairn, Kiefer, Crispin, and Tracey Walter. I did not know them or remember them from the last time I saw it. But this is a solid cast, they act their parts great, and the subject matter had me captivated.
The vividness of this film is what engrained it in my brain, I mean, the coldness of Christopher Walken, the pain of Sean Penn, naivety of his girlfriend, and overall the brutality of this film. It just stuck with me. Watching it this 2nd time around, it was as powerful as the first time. Sean Penn got to me when he testified against his father and couldn't get the words out - he didn't want to admit - that "he's my father". Feeling his pain, knowing his father had killed his brother, had his girlfriend whacked, and tried to have him killed. Brutal.
I honestly don't know why I don't give this film 10 out of 10. I'll have to give that some thought.
Off the top of my head they include Fire In the Sky, Scarface, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and At Close Range... to name a few.
I recently watched At Close Range again, having not seen it since the 80s and it was still fresh in my head. The thing that got me was when I found out that the movie was loosely based on a true story. They don't use the names of that crime family, in fact Christopher Walken's character is simply referred to as Brad Senior and his son Brad Junior.
The story revolves around a crime family who are subpoenaed to testify in front of a Grant Jury. Brad Sr. Trusts nobody, not even his own kids, so he wants to see to it that he's not incriminated.
From the last time I saw it (4 decades ago), I still remember the main members of the cast: Christopher Walken, Sean Penn, his brother (in real life and in the movie) Christopher, along with Sean's girlfriend Mary Stuart Masterson.
Watching it again I saw Millie Perkins (Diary of Anne Frank), David Strathairn, Kiefer, Crispin, and Tracey Walter. I did not know them or remember them from the last time I saw it. But this is a solid cast, they act their parts great, and the subject matter had me captivated.
The vividness of this film is what engrained it in my brain, I mean, the coldness of Christopher Walken, the pain of Sean Penn, naivety of his girlfriend, and overall the brutality of this film. It just stuck with me. Watching it this 2nd time around, it was as powerful as the first time. Sean Penn got to me when he testified against his father and couldn't get the words out - he didn't want to admit - that "he's my father". Feeling his pain, knowing his father had killed his brother, had his girlfriend whacked, and tried to have him killed. Brutal.
I honestly don't know why I don't give this film 10 out of 10. I'll have to give that some thought.