Rodrigo Amaro
Gotta try to make a way through this life and this world without robbing, killing, lying, cheating or harming anyone, be always a good person, never judge anyone, be polite to self and others, and always believe in the words of the Lord. If we could enter into many people's minds this is what we could possibly find there and certainly this would be on Jake's mind as well. He's the main character of "Bad Company" and despite all of his goodness and positive values, he is about to discover, just like many of us, that such desire and such will isn't easy to accomplish. Worst: can never be made real but at least one can always try to defend such values at all costs. Spirit of the unchangeable forces and very strong in his beliefs, the young Jake (Barry Brown) is traveling across America, escaping from being enlisted by the Army during the Civil War, when he stumbles on Dixon (Jeff Bridges) and his group of young thieves. At first, as a victim of the team who robbed his watch; later, fighting with them to get his watch back to finally be part of it, robbing money, food or whatever they need in those desperate times. As the story progresses, the group will face plenty of misfortunes, tragedies, treasons as well some good moments and stories to share. "Bad Company" is an outstanding western about incorruptible inner values and the constant struggle to keep them, unusual friendships and the importance of always trust in yourself rather than count with other people. In all of his goodness, Jake is frequently deceived and stepped over, but there's hope and time to learn the lesson and use the opponent's tricks against themselves. He stays strong to his ideals, only making them flexible when needed, like the shootout he and Dixon face against older thieves, or the way he joined the group by pretending he robbed a lot of money from a house, lying to be friends with the only people he knew in this new place, away from his family. Gripping, quite original and well humored, Robert Benton's debut as director is very impressive in the way it is filmed and conceived, highly entertaining but with a good message to present. The only minor problems are the ending - a little bit disappointing, should have been the opposite of what is shown - and Jake's narration throughout his diary, not properly used, with not much depth and unnecessary. He seems better represented when he's on the screen rather than the things he puts on his diary, such notes seems to be one step behind its writer, a very important presence that looks more intelligent than the stuff he adds in the paper. What makes the movie irresistible, something you must watch, is the young cast of stars. Sure, there's the now veterans like Ed Lauter and Geoffrey Lewis, but the show is dominated by Bridges, Brown, John Savage and the others. Bridges, still on the wave of "The Last Pciture Show", is a tough case to categorize since he plays such an hateful and despicable character that is difficult to like him. It's a great performance but it's impossible to like this guy who always wants to be the leader, pretending he's a nice guy sometimes, feeling like a big shot who knows everything when in fact he doesn't. Body and soul of this film is the young Barry Brown, a real surprise as the leading man, playing this nice guy that is always involved in bad situations and with bad people. At the end of the movie, you'll ask yourself what happened to this cute and incredibly talented man? That's the sad part since he starred in a few movies, "Piranha" being the most famous of them, frequently type-casted as the good guy, just like in here, and then he killed himself. Certainly I'll remember for his impeccable role in this film.So, thank you Mr. Benton for such a remarkable film, a good memory in the years to come. In case you're wondering the rock band took their name, and the title of one of their famous songs, after this film. Solid gold. 9/10
rhinocerosfive-1
A gang of little thieves meanders West to dodge the Civil War draft. On the way they lose their innocence, their dignity and most of their lives.Stars Jeff Bridges as a rural Artful Dodger, Barry Brown his Oliver Twist, and David Huddleston as Fagin. Features harsh dialog, decently drawn characters, the always excellent Gordon Willis behind the camera, and a jackrabbit shot to death with large-caliber revolvers.Like its early-70s revisionist brethren, BAD COMPANY immerses the viewer in an unglamorous Old West - there is some cursing, sudden brutality, and dirty clothing. Any of your companions could rob you, kill you or die any time. You will meet oddball characters on the trail. You will not take a bath for weeks. A jar of stolen peaches is your reward for a hard day's looking over both shoulders. That, or a load of buckshot in the back of the head. Unlike better works of the genre and period, here there is no paean to friendship lost, no elegy to changing times, no growth from boy to man, no story even. It's just a slice of life. This can be fine, this no-journey journey thing, but in BAD COMPANY point A is so close to point B, you will not have time to gain any insights. You will not learn any lessons, except perhaps a fatalistic impulse to steer clear of other people. So ultimately this movie, though competent in every element, is little more than a bummer.Too bad about Barry Brown - he shot himself in Silverlake before Silverlake, or he, was really fashionable. Too many movies like this and one gets a little depressed, I guess.
