The first thing that is likely to catch your eye about The Company You Keep, the latest directorial effort from Robert Redford, is the vast amount of star power it contains. I can’t recall having seen so impressive a cast for at least the last several years. Take a look at this list: Robert Redford, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Richard Jenkins, Terrence Howard, Julie Christie, Nick Nolte, Chris Cooper, Brendan Gleeson, Anna Kendrick, and Sam Elliott. These names, most of whom have won or have been nominated for an Academy Award, would be enough to convince most people to give the film a shot, but then again, more details on the film couldn’t hurt.

The plot revolves around a group of ex-radicals known as the “Weather Underground.” A few decades ago, they staged numerous protests and even committed a number of violent acts, including a bank robbery. Years later,...