{"id":4368,"date":"2007-10-02T12:35:59","date_gmt":"2007-10-02T19:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4368"},"modified":"2020-12-03T10:49:17","modified_gmt":"2020-12-03T17:49:17","slug":"bad-company-1972","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4368","title":{"rendered":"Bad Company (1972)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;My plans have changed somewhat: I have fallen in with some rough types, but it seems to be the only way to get to the West.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Poster-199x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-56133\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Poster-199x300.png 199w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Poster-678x1024.png 678w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Poster-179x270.png 179w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Poster.png 733w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nDuring the Civil War, an upstanding young draft dodger (Barry Brown) escapes to Missouri with plans of heading west; he&#8217;s soon robbed by the leader (Jeff Bridges) of a gang of petty thieves, and finds himself joining their crew in order to survive.\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Coming-of-Age<\/li>\n<li>Jeff Bridges Films<\/li>\n<li>Survival<\/li>\n<li>Thieves and Criminals<\/li>\n<li>Westerns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis unusual western &#8212; considered by many to be a true &#8220;sleeper&#8221; &#8212; was the directorial debut of Robert Benton, co-screenwriter for Arthur Penn&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4421\"><em>Bonnie and Clyde<\/em> (1967)<\/a>. From the opening scenes of <em>Bad Company<\/em>, it&#8217;s clear that Benton is aiming here for a similarly &#8220;revisionist&#8221; view of America &#8212; one in which criminals aren&#8217;t always gun-toting villains dressed in black, and the difference between right and wrong is rarely clear. After all, the film&#8217;s likable protagonist (Brown) is a draft dodger, running away from his legal duty as an American citizen, and abetted in doing so by his ultra-Christian (!) parents, who are so distressed by the loss of their only other son to the war that they&#8217;ve adopted an alternative code of ethics. <\/p>\n<p>At heart, <em>Bad Company<\/em> is a coming-of-age tale, with Drew (Brown) forced to confront his own values while under the influence of a charismatic leader (Bridges). What&#8217;s particularly fascinating is how readily Drew resists corruption, instead using his impressive wiles to stay autonomous despite nominally joining Bridges&#8217; gang. To this end, the movie&#8217;s final controversial shot doesn&#8217;t quite ring true, but the entire journey until then &#8212; particularly thanks to the noteworthy performances by both Bridges and Brown, and Gordon Willis&#8217;s luminous cinematography &#8212; is well worth taking.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Barry Brown as Drew<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Brown-Firelight.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Brown-Firelight.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-56139\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Brown-Firelight.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Brown-Firelight-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Brown-Firelight-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Brown-Firelight-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Brown-Firelight-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jeff Bridges as Jake<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Bridges.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Bridges.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-56138\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Bridges.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Bridges-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Bridges-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Bridges-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Bridges-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The fascinating opening sequence, as Union paddy wagons round up Civil War &#8220;deserters&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Paddy-Wagons.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Paddy-Wagons.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-56134\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Paddy-Wagons.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Paddy-Wagons-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Paddy-Wagons-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Paddy-Wagons-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Paddy-Wagons-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The disturbing scene in which a settler prostitutes his willing wife<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Prostitute.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Prostitute.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-56135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Prostitute.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Prostitute-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Prostitute-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Prostitute-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Prostitute-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Gordon Willis&#8217;s expansive cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-56140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Cinematography.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Cinematography-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Cinematography-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Cinematography-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Cinematography-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many well-observed details &#8212; such as a sheriff who insists on sitting in a rocking chair<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Rocking-Chair.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Rocking-Chair.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-56136\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Rocking-Chair.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Rocking-Chair-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Rocking-Chair-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Rocking-Chair-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Bad-Company-Rocking-Chair-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Harvey Schmidt&#8217;s funky solo piano score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes; this sleeper is an all-around good show. Listed as a Sleeper, a Cult Movie, and a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary&#8217;s book.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0068245\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1972\/10\/22\/archives\/critic-falls-in-with-bad-company-bad-company.html\">NY Times Original Review (scroll down to second review)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/bad-company-1972\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/bad-company-2\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;My plans have changed somewhat: I have fallen in with some rough types, but it seems to be the only way to get to the West.&#8221; Synopsis: During the Civil War, an upstanding young draft dodger (Barry Brown) escapes to Missouri with plans of heading west; he&#8217;s soon robbed by the leader (Jeff Bridges) of a gang of petty thieves, and finds himself joining their crew in order to survive. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Coming-of-Age Jeff Bridges Films Survival&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4368\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4368","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4368"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4368\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56141,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4368\/revisions\/56141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}