The Company You Keep

Jim Grant seems to have left his past behind. A former Weather Underground activist, he lives a quiet life under a false identity, works a modest job, and avoids connections that might reveal him. When a dogged journalist starts tracing clues back to his inescapable history, Grant realizes the calm of his routine is a fragile mask. The chase sends him through a maze of old allies and rival fugitives, forcing him to choose between loyalty and self preservation. As investigators tighten the noose, he must outwit the press, navigate old scores, and shield the people closest to him without igniting a dangerous expose. The pressure tests his resolve while keeping the danger close at every turn and growing urgency.

Directed by Robert Redford, The Company You Keep announces its intent as a character driven thriller adapted from Neil Gordon's novel. The screenplay is by Lem Dobbs, with Redford also shaping the tone through his restrained, intimate approach to audiences.

With a budget of 2,000,000, the movie grossed about 20,014,680 worldwide, offering a healthy return given the intimate, dialogue driven setup and the emphasis on performance over spectacle for a drama oriented toward grown up audiences prioritizing character over scale.

Critics called it a measured drama that relies on dialogue and character over action. It wrestles with memory, moral ambiguity, and the costs of keeping secrets. The film earns respect for its quiet tempo, the performances, and its willingness to resist easy answers. Its tone invites ethical discussion and memory.

Not a breakout cultural touchstone, the film nonetheless sits within conversations about radical activism and surveillance in the post 9/11 era. Its political climate parallels real world debates, and a handful of scenes linger, but it has not yielded a lasting quote or visual moment that echoes widely in memory.