Salvador (Special Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Salvador (Special Edition)
Movie Review: Before its Time
Summary: 4 Stars
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".Movie Review: A early powerful Stone film
Summary: 4 Stars
Salvador is an early Oliver Stone film, which required overcoming many production hurdles, lying and cheating to complete filming, and committing fraud for additional money (all admitted by Stone in the commentary.)It was underrated during its brief theatrical release, although James Woods earned and deserved his Best Actor nomination as a press photographer who goes to El Salvador, accompanied by Jim Belushi, to make some money photographing the political mess and killings there, including the murder of nuns and a priest. ("Romero" is a movie about the priest).
Based on "real events" and "real people" like all Stone movies, some license has been taken, also as in all Stone movies.
Political viewpoints aside, the movie pulls no punches in showing the atrocities of war. If you are squeamish about seeing dead bodies, burning bodies and bloody bodies, then you will have to look away on occasion. As in real life, there is some sex and swearing.
The DVD extras, including Stone's commentary, deleted scenes, and cast interviews and clips, are very interesting as well.
Movie Review: Overall a Truthful Account of a Dark and Bloody Time
Summary: 4 Stars
While Oliver Stone's 60's-style "hipness" intrudes too much into the characters and situations, overall the film is a good and honest portrayal of the Nazi-like terror inflicted on this country by police and military beasts in human form. Having been associated with Amnesty International at this time I'm well aware of the real people who were tortured, mutilated, raped, murdered, and "disappeared" in the name of "Western Values." This film not only portrays the true face of El Salvador's bloody and evil little civil war, but of the moral callousness of the US in funding this descent into hell. The US self-righteousness over Bosnia and Kosovo a decade or so later seems all the more incredible, as one watches American complicity with mass murder here.Movie Review: Authentic docu-drama - One of the best from Stone
Summary: 4 Stars
A very well made movie from Oliver Stone. Bonus is James Woods in one of the best roles of his career. Stone has authentically produced the real El Salvador of that time with lot of care. We feel the horror so much as if we ARE in Salvador. I would say, his images are as faithful as the recordings of Rick Boyle. The film, though may have little more sub-topics, essentially has been successful to portray the commitment of a photo-journalist and in the process, of a film maker as well. It is noteworthy how thoroughly Stone has captured Boyle's life, mind, thoughts and works. All through the film, that a friendship survived in the face of a pure nightmare situation only adds another dimension to it. One of the best from Mr. Stone.Movie Review: Pretty good
Summary: 4 Stars
Decent film that gives a good sense of the violence perpetuated by the U.S. backed death squads (a.k.a. "freedom fighters") in El Salvador. This is an early Oliver Stone film and I believe it was nominated for a least one academy award. Like in Missing (about Chile), we get the story of a free-lance journalist. It also incorporates some of the major events of the time (i.e. the assassination of Archbishop Romero and the rape and murder of four American nuns).
I don't give it five stars because one does not leave this film with a good undertanding of what was going on. However, as the film sparks the viewer's curosity to find out more, it serves its purpose well.