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Salvador - Special Edition | Year: 1986 Classification: Drama Directed: - Oliver Stone Actors/Actresses: - James Woods - James Belushi Before its Time Not unlike many of Oliver Stone's achievements, Salvador is not only before its time but also one of his least known films. An intensely gripping drama set during the guerrilla uprising in El Salvador in the early 1980's. James Woods plays Richard Boyle, an alcoholic, down-on-his-luck, freelance photographer, travels to El Salvador with friend Dr Rock (Belushi). Boyle hopes to document the troubles arising and make some cash in doing so. Woods' performance has been considered a little too rough around the edges for most critics' liking, yet he actually toned down the character for the film (the real Richard Boyle co-wrote the script with Stone), as he thought that people would find the character disagreeable. Stone's direction is truly at its best. The limited budget, time frame and only his third full-length movie give the film the gritty, panicked edge it deserves and achieves. Stone as usual pulls no punches when it comes to portraying violence and contempt for political ignorance. Attacks on US policies pertaining to arms support in favour of the dictatorship, as opposed to the communist insurgents, are dealt with in a clear and concise manner. Not a film for the faint-hearted, "Salvador" is one of the first documentary style features that would later become inspiration for the likes of "Welcome to Sarajevo" and "The Killing Fields". At first it seems like fun. Then the horror sets in. James Boyle, the journalist who actually lived this fascinating story, wrote this 1986 screenplay along with Oliver Stone, who also directed it. It takes place in El Salvador during in the early 1980s. War was raging and, depending upon which version you believe, it was either a Civil war against the military government or a potential communist takeover. People are being murdered every day and it's an awful place to be. James Woods stars as James Boyle, a freelance journalist who had formerly been a reporter in Vietnam. His life in California is spinning out of control. He has no money, his wife has left him, and he craves the excitement of being where the action is. He and his disk jockey friend, Doctor Rock, played by James Belushi, drive down to El Salvador, drinking and drugging and spinning bad jokes all the way. At first it all seems like fun. Then reality hits. And the two friends are plunged into the violence. There's one scene after another that made me cringe in horror. And yet, James Woods is quite a con man and keeps getting himself and his friend out of scrapes by his fast talking and former connections. He falls in love with a local woman, tells it like it is to the American Ambassador, and keeps getting into trouble. There's lots of action and lots of people getting killed. And yet, it's mainly about the personalities of the two lead characters. This adds a light touch to the horror that surrounds them. It's a fast paced film without one dull moment. I couldn't stop watching and wondering what would happen next. The DVD extras feature a long documentary about the making of the film. That was interesting background and added to my enjoyment although by then I was dozing off. During the actual film, however, falling asleep would have been impossible. Highly recommended. Old and Wrong I know this movie is old, but I have to say it still makes me sick. From someone who was born in El Salvador and watched a parent get shot 50+ times from communist lefties, to watch this total lie of a movie is distrubing. James Wood "still" needs to be ashamed. This fiction has nothing to do with any reality in Central America, today, or yesterday. Buy Salvador at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Salvador Search with the Priority Search Engine on Salvador This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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