Comments on: TIFF Review: Robert Redford’s ‘The Company You Keep’ Is An Unconvincing Bit Of Agitprop

By: Stassinopoulis Post

Stassinopoulis Post — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:35:42 +0000

While attempting to shame the âsmall-mindedâ among us into forgiving the terrorist and murderer Kathy Boudin and forgetting that sheâs on the faculty, the student newspaper of Columbia University, the Columbia Daily Spectator, puts into writing a concept that many outside academia have observed for years: âWhat is the aim of college, after all, if not to ask students to rethink the categories of good and evil even change their minds?â Inside academic circles, this type of thinking is lauded as enlightenment. Outside academic circles, this concept is known as moral relativism, and it is widely regarded as undermining the culture of this country.

Ms. Boudin may have paid her legal debt to society, but as the Spectator acknowledges, ânothing can repair the lifelong pain that the families of the Brinks robbery victims still experience. The trauma that these people endured must surely make Boudinâs position at Columbia seem cruel and ironic. She lives, teaches, and receives recognition; their loved ones never had the chance.â At the end of her incarceration, Ms. Boudin opted against a quiet life of remorse that she claims to feel, she chooses to work at a high profile university, to publish and to make speeches.

The pattern of convicted domestic terrorists profiting from the crimes of their youth with speaking fees, book royalties, and tenured positions at distinguished universities is unsettling. Ms. Boudin drawing a salary to teach the brightest and best young minds in this country is tantamount to a serial rapist taking a salaried position as a grief counselor.

If Boudin has truly made a transformation from a reckless radical to becoming socially responsible, there would be no need for her to shine a spotlight on herself by publishing, speaking, and teaching at an Ivy League school. Her post-conviction life screams âHey look at me being socially responsibleâ very loudly. I donât blame anyone bothered by her screaming âHey look at me being socially responsibleâ from her ivy-covered ivory tower.

By: shalom

shalom — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:35:42 +0000

you mr redford took away the rights of Che's nurse allowing her and her daughter to face off with the hit squads who killed her. So where is your leverage of authority here in speaking about the right or wrong of a pipeline. The nurse was poisoned upon the release of your film. A woman who helped set up Sharon Tate and Jay Sebring for murder stole all of the che work she could and poisoned the nurse and the daughter, and they squared off with death while you collected money on Che. This world war II nurse was made to get new heart valves because of the poison but the killers who hated your release of the film wouldn't let her live. Her pipes were poisoned again and again, and she was suffocated ultimately by the killers you left her vulnerable to, while you bought and sold "story". The daughter is handicapped, Mr. Redford. So, you, Big Redford, are like "big oil" to the victims of the killers while you collect money on work of Che that was not yours. You have had friends around you asked to speak to you about this for over a year and you make no move to be a redeemer. This situation has made you look like one of the extras on the Dallas murder of JFK, Mr. Redford. Leaving the witness vulnerable to the killers, just sitting back and doing nothing to make up for damages. How much would be made if you were sued for the life of an American World War II army surgical nurse, Mr. Redford? What are you doing, commenting on oil? A standard oil hitman met me this year, what is going on? Are you even awake on your feet? The Standard Oil team kept you alive long enough to be strong and you let her die. The daughter fought and fought and had to pull a fake gun on a skin head and you ask us to "listen very carefully". How much is a witness on intel worth? and why this set-up to kill witnesses coming from you?

By: ron

ron — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:35:42 +0000

what exactly are you reviewing here? The film or Redford's politics?

By: DomizianoA

DomizianoA — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:35:42 +0000

I am sorry for Simon Abrams and his very off putting, clearly hating review but i completely agree with Walter Trishna and his take!
What movie did mr.Abrams see?
He doesn't even mention Julie Christie who's just sublime and so convincing and has one hell of a final scene with Redford both glowing, and no matter the age!
Dialog is formidable, plot is thrilling yet with insightful touching characters development!
A fantastic and rightly so melancholic drama, with a political thriller undertone is for me Academy Awards material!
And so are its actors and Lem Dobbs script and Cliff Martinez fantastic score!
And yes this film is about complex American history, and people with at least a few ideals, for God's sake! They didn't bother then about Reality TV or the net.. they were giving their lives for a cause! Please go see this movie!!! Whoever you are!

By: Walter Trishna

Walter Trishna — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:35:42 +0000

Wow, did we see the same movie? I was at the 11:30 a.m. TIFF press screening and couldn't agree less with your comments. I realize that The Playlist/IndieWire is not in the critical pantheon, but surely the powers-that-be at the website could have sent someone who appreciates traditional, well-made dramas that dare to broach subjects deeper than the underwear of comic book heroes. For starters, the audience of press and industry people certainly seemed to enjoy the film. Secondly, the movie is beautifully acted and very well-made. Maybe you just have a problem with dialogue that propels a film as opposed to car chases. Anyway, "The Company You Keep" is a movie meant to tell a story that causes members of the audience to actually engage in a conversation about ideas, rather than dashing out and saying: "gee, that was cool." The film is about a time in American history that was complex and still hasn't played out in terms of old animosities. The movie captures that perfectly.

By: J.B.

J.B. — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:35:42 +0000

Just wondering….Are critics paid on a sliding scale? Do you (critics) get paid extra the nastier the review? Does your hatred of "bleeding hearts" extend to all politically liberal leaning individuals, or is it reserved for Mr. Redford?

Vote Romney. He's the best politician money can buy!

By: Huffy

Huffy — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:35:42 +0000

Redford has to be one of the most overrated directors out there all thanks to the fact that he's acting royalty (not to mention the fact that he panders to the Academy). People complain about the attention Eastwood constantly gets but at least he's a good craftsman and has a knack for picking good scripts (usually).