Walker

USA / Mexico / Spain 1987
produced by
Angel Flores Marini, Lorenzo O'Brien, Edward R. Pressman (executive) for In-Cine Companía Industrial Cinematográfica, Northern, Walker Films/Universal
directed by Alex Cox
starring Ed Harris, Richard Masur, Remé Assa, Rene Auberjonois, Keith Szarabajka, Sy Richardson, Xander Berkely, John Diehl, Peter Boyle, Miguel Sandoval, Marlee Matlin, Alfonso Arau, Pedro Armendariz jr, Roberto López Espinoza, Gerrit Graham, Helene Farber, William O'Leary, Blanca Guerra, Alan Boult, Rick Barker, Karl Braun, Kathy Burke, Biff Yeager, Dick Rude, Joe Strummer
written by Rudy Wurlitzer, music by Joe Strummer

review by
Mike Haberfelner

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The 1850's: Failing to start a revolution in Sonora, Mexico, & put to trial in an American court for this, American citizen William Walker(Ed Harris) is actually acquitted from his deeds when he adresses the court in an compelling speech about his duties as an American to have a leading role in the Western hemisphere and to widespread the idea of democracy. Somewhat impressed by the innocent idealism of this man paired with a certain otherworldliness, rich industrialist Vanderbildt (Peter Boyle) hires him to bring democracy to Nicaragua - actually just an excuse to guarantee his transports safe passage through the country at present torn by a civil war. Once there, Walker joins forces with a motley crew called the Liberals and swears his men in with worthless phrases like our path is the righteous one, but subsequently losing a large part of his army in battle - which he quite literally walks through. Quite unexpectedly though, while he hasn't really won the battle, he wins the war - helped by cholera & famine -, & snipers taking shots at him in the capital Grenada only underline his victory. But soon he has to find out that winning the peace is a whole other thing than winning the war, with former allies soon turning out to be his enemies and the Nicaraguans showing significantly less gratitude to their liberators than they should. So, Walker takes democracy into his own hands, having himself proclaimed president, but making one false decision after another. First he falls out with Vanderbildt, cutting himself & the country off from supply of money, food & recruits. To compensate for that, he decides to reestablish slavery. Seemingly unaware that this might cause disturbances in some parts of the country, finally he has Grenada burnt down to destroy his enemies - thus creating a chaos much greater than the chaos he once tried to end. When an American helicopter lands to evacuate American citizens from unrests American citizens started in the first place, he, as president of Nicaragua, refuses to leave, to finally be shot by a firing squad.

A movie about the tragic historical character of William Walker (an earlier adaptation of his life was Gillo Pontecorvo's Queimada from 1968, starring Marlon Brando as Walker), a man who slowly betrayed all the ideals he once held dear, & every friend he once had. But thankfully, director Alex Cox decided to do this not as heavy handed historical drama but as action-packed political satire aimed at the then current Nicaragua-policy of the Reagan-cabinet (underlined by the helicopter-scene near the end, but also by excerpts from some of Reagan's speeches as an epilogue during the closing credits), but actually easily to apply to many a conflict the US (or even other countries) has bungled up before or since. & Ed Harris in the lead role gives the performance of his life, playing the role with just the right mixture of idealism & insanity to bring the point across.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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