Walker
Walker
R | 04 December 1987 (USA)
Walker Trailers

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.

Reviews
Perry Kate Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
SincereFinest disgusting, overrated, pointless
Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
Jenni Devyn Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.
MartinHafer William Walker was one of the more interesting characters of the 19th century--though he's pretty much forgotten today. And, with films like "Burn!" and "Walker", he'll probably pretty much remain forgotten! Let me explain. I saw Marlon Brando's film "Burn!" and noticed that almost NONE of the film bore any similarity to the like of the title character, William Walker. It had a very broad similarity and it used his name--but that is all. So, wanting to learn more about the real guy, I did some research. He was a very interesting and screwy guy--an adventurer that lived to start self-serving revolutions in Central America. And, amazingly, with a tiny rag-tag army he became the leader, briefly, of Nicaragua just before the US Civil War. He also was a staunch supporter of returning slavery to these nations which had outlawed slavery in the preceding decades. And, because he was such a fascinating man, I was excited to learn about the film "Walker"--a film that purports to be a true story of the man. Unfortunately, it isn't. Although the film is much closer to the man than in "Burn!", it is completely inaccurate and portrays Walker as a man so bizarre and idiotic you question whether he had the ability to dress himself--let alone lead a successful revolution! Imagine taking a historical biopic, "Blazing Saddles" and a Fellini or Buñuel and combining them! The film is rather pointless and annoying.Through most of the film, Ed Harris seems to be almost sleepwalking through the title role. I don't necessarily blame him--that is the sort of performance the director wanted. But it just made no sense. And, as the film progressed, it made less and less and less sense. And, at times, the film inserted things SOMEONE must have thought were funny--but weren't. For example, at the one hour mark, two Nicaraguans are shown reading PEOPLE and NEWSWEEK magazines....in 1857! And, in another case, he and walks casually through a botched battle--showing no emotion whatsoever and not fighting as his men are being slaughtered around him. So what does he FINALLY do? He sits down to play the piano as men are dying all around him!!The problem is that if it was meant as satire, it didn't stray far enough or get weird enough. If it was meant as a biopic, well, it was a total failure--with too many surreal moments and little attention to historical accuracy. The resulting film is simply a stupid mess--and one I really cannot recommend even for bad movie buffs.By the way, if you care, Ed Harris really is doing sign language in the early part of the film. It's not great but he did a good job here.
mark-gisleson I rented the movie because I was actively opposed to Reagan-era Central American policies. To say I was disappointed in this disjointed, poorly made movie is an understatement. There's some good to be said about some of the acting, but for the most part the movie jerks about in a confusing manner where the real meat of the movie is always being discussed after the fact and not shown on the screen. However well intended the politics, I cannot imagine anyone being influenced by such a poorly made, ideologically confused movie. The only thing that rang true was that Walker's men were portrayed as being, for the most part, idiots, and the Walker in this movie was a man only idiots would follow into battle.
groovy_dead This is one of the greatest films i have ever seen. The only issue I have with it is that it is out of print. I'd do almost anything to find a copy. While not the most accurate account of LITERAL history, it still provides decent reference as long as it is taken in its intended symbolic context. It is a truly profound portrayal, a historical as well as a relevant political statement filled with striking imagery and an outstanding score. Possibly too abstract for some, but in all actuality a most outstanding movie. If anyone knows where i might be able to find a copy of this I would be most obliged. I recommend it to anyone interested in...well I recommend it to anyone really.
ksenn_14 It's not very often you get to watch a truly awful historical movie that is at the same time monumentally entertaining as a guilty pleasure...but here it is! I challenge any soul on this earth to even so much as make it through the first scene between Ed Harris and Peter Boyle where when Walker (Harris) asks Cornelius Vanderbilt (Boyle) if he's entitled to wear a naval uniform Boyle cranks, "..I'm entitled to do anything I want!!!" and then rips a sound-edited and enhanced fart so loud and obnoxious it wouldn't have made it into an "Airplane" movie. You'll rewind it ten times at least just to hear it!!! The rest of the movie is equally disastrous, but I'll write no more spoilers. Truly a gem. Ed Harris needn't carry himself so conceitedly in Hollywood given this skeleton in his closet.