Great title aside, "Bad Company" undermines expectations in a couple of ways. It's a western, but of the revisionist sort (indeed, it's no rollicking escapism) and it feels like a coming-of-age story, but seems to be somewhat opposed to that, too. It's a curious thing: I approached this movie as a Jeff Bridges fan, and came away better appreciating Barry Brown instead. Which makes sense, it's his story. But he embodied the well-behaved Midwestern Christian so perfectly.
There's a Mark Twain undercurrent running through all of this, but it's not a straightforward tale on the river. It's complicated and seeing how far Brown has fallen by the end credits is the real reason there's any shock value to this (even with the "Butch Cassidy" freeze-frame, which was kind of a disappointment). This movie isn't genre (re)defining but it scratches an itch. And even if you're not swept off your feet, there are high points; David Huddleston owns his scenes, those prairies certainly look good, and that tinkling piano score sticks with you.
6/10
There's a Mark Twain undercurrent running through all of this, but it's not a straightforward tale on the river. It's complicated and seeing how far Brown has fallen by the end credits is the real reason there's any shock value to this (even with the "Butch Cassidy" freeze-frame, which was kind of a disappointment). This movie isn't genre (re)defining but it scratches an itch. And even if you're not swept off your feet, there are high points; David Huddleston owns his scenes, those prairies certainly look good, and that tinkling piano score sticks with you.
6/10