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The Company [2007]
![The Company [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51aJ9P0-RwL._SL160_.jpg)
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Polished
Review date: 2008-01-05 Rating: 8 out of 10
Michael Keaton is the real star of this. His performance as James Jesus Angleton is nearly as good as that of Alec Guinness playing George Smiley. Not so sure about Chris O'Connell. He does not age well as has been already noted in another review. I can understand though why he was chosen to play the part. He has always played squeaky clean characters as in 'Scent of a woman', and 'Dead Poets Society'. There are some differences to the book and I'm sure at least one major character does not appear. Possibly reading the book first would help understand the plot but then you would know who the mole is so I would recommend watching this first. A useful book to read before this would be 'The very best men' by Evan Thomas, as it would provide good background information but not ruin the plot.
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Reviews
The Company They Kept
Review date: 2007-11-24 Rating: 6 out of 10
First of all, I actually enjoyed this mini-series, which, as has been noted, is elegantly produced and, on the whole, well acted. The costumes and settings are also excellent and evocative of the period. Michael Keaton is especially good in the role of chain-smoking James J. Angleton. And Tom Hollander, who seems to be making a career playing various Cambridge spies (He still has to play Maclean, Cairncross, and Blunt [which will require a real suspension of disbelief].), is brilliant (as usual) in the role of Philby (whom the writers have coyly called by one of his middle names, Adrian, so that viewers who may be only vaguely familiar with the early history of CIA will not guess he is Kim, the British Soviet Mole). Hollander plays the spy with understated charm, and his suggestion of Philby's stammer never slips into parody.
Good points being acknowledged, I now come to various aspects that have been already stated in other reviews: the overproduced music (which sometimes drowns out crucial dialogue); the handsome but rather wooden hero, who ages twenty years only in the steel color of his hair; and the confusing flashbacks, which cloud the narrative. As one who is fairly familiar with the historical background, I was also annoyed by details, which I admit are picky: if the heroes graduated in the Yale class of 1954 (as has been indicated), Philby, along with Burgess, had vacated Washington in 1951; by 1954, Burgess was in Moscow and Philby was being interrogated in London, so there is no way that the young Yalies would have been in on the Philby debacle (One of them is depicted as delivering whisky and other goodies to him in Washington.). I think I prefer the "Good Shepherd's" solution of giving real people false names [We still knew that Matt Damon was supposed to be Angleton!]. Then, none of these plot points would make the slightest bit of difference.
Again, I enjoyed the mini-series, which, under the aegis of Ridley Scott, sticks to standards that are much higher than the usual U.S. television fare, but I think it could have been far better with a little more planning and a lot more editing.
Awesome awesome awesome - this is top quality programming
Review date: 2007-10-18 Rating: 10 out of 10
From producers Ridley Scott, Tony Scott & John Calley - and starring Alfred Molina, Chris O'Donnell, Michael Keaton and Tom Hollander - this 3 part TV series from the US is of comparable quality to the likes of Band of Brothers, Sopranos & West Wing. Its a compelling story arc that follows key figures in the CIA and the KGB during the Cold War.
Clearly Emmy award winning stuff - the conversion from the original book to the TV screen is handled with elegance and class. I cant recommend this enough. This programme knocks the socks off 'The Good Shepherd' and deserves TV Event status for bringing blockbuster film quality entertainment to the small screen.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Rory Cochrane
Alfred Molina
Alessandro Nivola
Michael Keaton
Chris O'Donnell
Creators:
Chris O'Donnell (Primary Contributor)
Alfred Molina (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 5050582514452
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 3
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-12-10
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 275 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2007
Language: English (Original Language)