this have high intellectual pretension . the main lead intend to give a deep meaningful rendering ( with voice over for his frame of mind naturally ) and he be certainly influence by the fifty or sixty method which and when the script and the direction be worthwhile do give stunning result ( see clift and newman and winter ) . but here the story be abysmal . besides it move too slow and you could edit at least 20 minute include pointless flashback and the plot line would not be change . at time and it very doubtful that bruce dern believe in his uncle character and his portraying often verge on parody . an interesting side be only skim over representthe relationship young boy or hero if we admit that the hero be himself some kind of child when he say to the young kid that he would let nobody do harm to him and some welcome tenderness emerges . but it botch and only the final scene return to it . word to the wise representtake foley at close range instead representit have two great actor ( christopher walken and sean penn together . ) and it also an offbeat movie and but it grip and suspenseful . here my hitchcockometer point sullenly towards zero throughout .