Walker (1987)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Alex Cox

Writer:

Rudy Wurlitzer (writer)

Release Date:

4 December 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | War | Western

Tagline:

Before Rambo... Before Oliver North...

Plot:

William Walker and his mercenary corps enter Nicaragua in the middle of the 19th century in order to install a new government by a coup d'etat...

Plot Keywords:

Nicaragua | Independent Film

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ed Harris	...	William Walker
Richard Masur	...	Ephraim Squier
René Assa	...	Doctor
Rene Auberjonois	...	Maj. Siegfried Hennington
Keith Szarabajka	...	Timothy Crocker
Sy Richardson	...	Capt. Hornsby
Xander Berkeley	...	Byron Cole
John Diehl	...	Stebbins
Peter Boyle	...	Cornelius Vanderbilt
Marlee Matlin	...	Ellen Martin
Alfonso Arau	...	Raousset
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.	...	Muñoz (as Pedro Armendariz)
Roberto López Espinoza	...	Mayorga
Gerrit Graham	...	Norvell Walker
Helene Farber	...	Streetwalker

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA | Mexico | Spain

Language:

English | American Sign Language

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:MA (TV rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | Denmark:15 (2003) | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Granada, Nicaragua

Company:

In-Cine Compañía Industrial Cinematográfica

Trivia:

Just after Walker has been informed of his victory in Nicaragua, he leads his troops toward Granada past a grave with a cross inscribed "Sam Peckimpah" (sic).

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: This film is littered with anachronisms (for example: modern cars, color printed magazines and coca cola bottles). However, these are clearly an artistic choice by the film-maker and cannot be considered true 'goofs'.

Quotes:

William Walker: One must act with severity, or perish.

Movie Connections:

References Sid and Nancy (1986)

Soundtrack:

The Unknown Immortal

Forget the critics, watch this movie!

I'm totally baffled by the way Alex Cox's 'Walker' has been ignored, vilified, criticised, ridiculed and slandered over the years. Maybe it's political message cuts too close to the bone, or maybe the mainstream movie critics are even more conservative and short sighted than you think. Maltin gives it a BOMB rating, and even the usually perceptive Ebert totally dismisses it. Forget them! Watch 'Walker' and make your own mind up.

'Walker' is certainly no masterpiece, it has many flaws and problems. It isn't subtle political satire (polemic?), it's often crude and ill advised. Some of the actors, especially Marlee Matlin and Gerrit Graham are under-used. However, it is FAR from a "bomb"! Cox is a passionate man, and any failings here are due to that passion. The movie is a cry for help for Nicaragua and its people, and draws parallels between America's involvement in the 19th century and the 1980s.

This movie is clever, stupid, rough, accomplished, funny and tragic all at the same time. Ed Harris is marvellous in the title role, and many cult actors turn up in supporting roles. Cox is a Peckinpah devotee and some of that great director's influence can be seen on screen. But Cox is no carbon copy he's a true original. 'Repo Man' shows that, and anyone who enjoyed that or 'Sid And Nancy' should take a look at this, one of the most unjustly ignored movies of the 80s.