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Capone Takes A Stroll With Paul Schrader's THE WALKER!
Hey folks. Capone in Chicago here.
Woody Harrelson has always been one of those actors that I like keeping an eye on. After injecting some much needed humor into NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, he creates one of the most interesting and nuanced roles of his career, that of Carter Page III, a D.C. gossip collector and friend/escort to many of the city's female high-society types. With his well-trimmed moustache and a variety of suave hair pieces, Carter finds himself mixed up in a murder investigation while helping a senator's wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) keep her involvement in the matter from the police. As much as the film is about the killing, writer-director Paul (AUTOFOCUS) Schrader is clearly more interested in Carter's story and his thrilling mix of mostly elderly socialite friends. Lauren Bacall, Lily Tomlin and Mary Beth Hurt are among the ladies he plays cards with and trades secrets concerning the D.C. elite.
While it's no secret that Carter is gay (his younger partner is played by German-born Moritz Bleibtreu of RUN LOLA RUN), even this small hint of scandal surrounding his involvement in this case has his long-time friends running for the hills. There's an almost-chilling scene in which Bacall explains to Carter why he's being ostracized; she's so polite about it that you almost don't notice how shallow and cruel she's being. The situation isn't helped by the fact that Carter's father was a well-respected political figure, and every senator Carter comes into contact with (especially Ned Beatty as Tomlin's husband) makes him feel like that much more of a disappointment.
As the writer of such films as TAXI DRIVER, RAGING BULL, and THE MOSQUITO COAST, it comes as no surprise that Schrader has a real gift for dialog, and Harrelson's portrait of a man watching his hard-earned reputation and lifestyle slip away before his eyes is crushing. At its core, the film is about a man just beyond his prime, but who has been able to deny it because of the company he keeps. When the friends disappear, the fragile nature of his status shows itself. Harrelson is so good here that you can forgive the film its flaws. Willem Dafoe shows up briefly as Thomas's senator husband who barely manages to hide his contempt for Carter as he threatens to have him investigated for the murder if he breathes a word of his wife's involvement. It's a tricky story that is matched by beautifully layered performances by all the actors. THE WALKER is one of those small treasures that sneaks out at the end of the year, hoping for a little critical recognition but usually getting lost in the public eye. But I implore you to seek this one out if you're looking for something out of the ordinary.
Capone
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LEDGER IS THE FUCKING JOKER, AND YOU ALL KNOW IT!!!!
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review this MONTHS ago?! Midol Girl already took a stroll with walker.
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...they're not all gems, but they're all, at the very least, interesting, and how many writer/directors can you consistently say that about these days?
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Well said Capone! This guy is seriously underrated and overshadowed by his pot crusades. His roles in White Men Can't Jump (Billy Hoyle!) and Kingpin are certifiable classics. WMCJ was even one of Kubrick's fave movies. I hope he gets a huge role one day that gets him a gold statue. He does balding men proud and makes them seem cool as fuck on film. That's a hard task! Hopefully The Walker plays near me. Go see it people. Support Woody. Don't just wait for his Will Ferrell bball flick.
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Not only the passing reference to the film's "flaws," which are then not mentioned or expounded upon in any way, but also this sentence: "While it's no secret that Carter is gay (his younger partner is played by German-born Moritz Bleibtreu of RUN LOLA RUN). . ." Can someone explain to me what on earth that parenthetical is doing there? The choice of actor for Carter's partner makes it obvious that everyone in the film knows Carter is gay? Is that really what you meant to say?
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I hear that Ledger as The Joker rumor is pure speculation at this point.
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Capone is right
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has poor reading comprehension. Good review.
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Dec 17, 2007 10:20:20 AM CST
Schraeder is underrated. Some greatness but no love from Hollywo
by stormwatcher
Bout all I have to say on that.
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Dec 17, 2007 10:20:29 AM CST
Schraeder is underrated. Some greatness but no love from Hollywo
by stormwatcher
Bout all I have to say on that.
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The addition of the Bleibtrau fact in brackets after the mention of the main character's homosexuality IMPLIES A CONNECTION between the two. Spacehog shows a knowledge of punctuation that you lack.
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Magnum.
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I think people found it too creepy, or are fans of Richard Dawson.
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