Many filmmakers are afraid to speak out on difficult, controversial issues, for fear of driving away audiences and risking their profits. Not Oliver Stone. If he has a viewpoint on a much-debated issue, he says it as he sees it, no holds barred. The Kennedy assassination. Media violence. Watergate. Vietnam. As far as he's concerned, all these topics, and more, are fair game for his personal cinematic treatment. He may be accused of overdramatizing, of taking liberties with the facts, but no one can say he's uninteresting. "Salvador" is an important turning point in his career, the start of a line of films that established his place in motion picture history.
Oliver Stone's chosen target: the role the United States plays in the affairs of third-world countries. Based upon the real-life experiences of journalist Richard Boyle, The film unapologetically criticizes our actions in El Salvador. It states that the U.S. aided and abetted a bloody revolution to support its own interests. Stone takes a very dim view of our military officials, portraying them as brutish and short-sighted at best. Although its politics caused some to dismiss it as left-wing propaganda, Stone paid no heed; just the opposite--he revels in the controversy his work generates in its wake. The film is to be commended for not compromising its views.
What really drives the movie is the James Woods performance. At first glance, he seems to be little more than a sleazy, opportunistic reporter. In truth, that is just what he is...up to a point. However, his experiences prove a major wake-up call. Only then does he attempt to stand up for what he believes in. Compared to the devious U.S. officials, he's an innocent. Woods makes the transition believable, giving his character an unexpected humanity. Not only that, but he actually puts a dash of humor in an otherwise grim tale. His interplay with James Belushi is a joy to watch, and the infamous confessional scene is pretty damn funny.
"Salvador" is not a perfect film; Stone's usual tendency to spell everything out for the viewer manifests itself on several occasions. The midsection tends to lag, and the John Savage character is sorely underused. Finally, the director's difficulty in dealing with women is frequently evident. Nonetheless, it's worth at least one viewing. Even if you disagree with its politics, it cannot be denied that the human drama is, by turns, searing, hilarious, sobering...and unexpectedly moving.
*** (out of ****)
Released by Hemdale Film Corp.
Oliver Stone's chosen target: the role the United States plays in the affairs of third-world countries. Based upon the real-life experiences of journalist Richard Boyle, The film unapologetically criticizes our actions in El Salvador. It states that the U.S. aided and abetted a bloody revolution to support its own interests. Stone takes a very dim view of our military officials, portraying them as brutish and short-sighted at best. Although its politics caused some to dismiss it as left-wing propaganda, Stone paid no heed; just the opposite--he revels in the controversy his work generates in its wake. The film is to be commended for not compromising its views.
What really drives the movie is the James Woods performance. At first glance, he seems to be little more than a sleazy, opportunistic reporter. In truth, that is just what he is...up to a point. However, his experiences prove a major wake-up call. Only then does he attempt to stand up for what he believes in. Compared to the devious U.S. officials, he's an innocent. Woods makes the transition believable, giving his character an unexpected humanity. Not only that, but he actually puts a dash of humor in an otherwise grim tale. His interplay with James Belushi is a joy to watch, and the infamous confessional scene is pretty damn funny.
"Salvador" is not a perfect film; Stone's usual tendency to spell everything out for the viewer manifests itself on several occasions. The midsection tends to lag, and the John Savage character is sorely underused. Finally, the director's difficulty in dealing with women is frequently evident. Nonetheless, it's worth at least one viewing. Even if you disagree with its politics, it cannot be denied that the human drama is, by turns, searing, hilarious, sobering...and unexpectedly moving.
*** (out of ****)
Released by Hemdale Film Corp.