Stephen Root joins Robert Redford's political thriller, The Company You Keep

As good as Stephen Root has been throughout his career both with his comedic ability and the occasional dramatic turn, he'll always be remembered as nervous employee Milton Waddams in Office Space. For me it was his stint on the missed TV sitcom, Newsradio, that really put me on to his talents, and I've found that his presence is generally for the better to any production. Earlier this year, Root had a small but important role in Robert Redford's Abe Lincoln assassination pic, The Conspirator. Things must have worked out pretty well because Redford is bringing him back for his next political thriller, The Company You Keep.

Redford is directing and starring, playing an ex-militant activist wanted by the FBI, forced to go on the run when his identity is exposed by an upstart journalist, played by Shia Labeouf. Root will play Billy Cusimano, represened by Redford's character when he was busted for drugs.  Brit Marling(Another Earth), Nick Nolte, Richard Jenkins, Julie Christie, and Susan Sarandon co-star.

Root had a hilarious small bit in the Ed Helms starring Cedar Rapids earlier this year, and will be seen next on the big screen as part of Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar. [Variety]