HottWwjdIam There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.
Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
ne Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
JasparLamarCrabb There's something going on here but what it is isn't exactly clear. Paul Schrader's muddled thriller benefits greatly from a very interesting Woody Harrelson performance along with a highly colorful ing cast. Harrelson is a Washington DC society dandy who escorts ("walks") married women to various functions. He know all their secrets and where all the bodies are buried. When one doyenne (Kristin Scott Thomas) becomes embroiled in the murder case of a shifty lobbyist, Harrelson steps in and nearly takes the rap. Like the heroes in past Schrader films (LIGHT SLEEPER, American GIGOLO), Harrelson's character is deeply flawed and more than a little disinterested in his own fate. Harrelson plays his role as if channeling both Truman Capote AND Hercule Poirot! Schrader's script has a greatly paced first half but then all is rushed for a tidy completion. Still, the film is immensely watchable and full of many great lines of dialog ("never get between a friend and a firing squad"). Lauren Bacall is great as a grand old dame and Lily Tomlin, Ned Beatty and Marybeth Hurt are in it too.
Claudio Carvalho In Washington, the sophisticated homosexual Carter "Car" Page III (Woody Harrelson) is a "walker", escorting the wives of powerful men in social events, clubs and shopping. Car is the son and grandson of famous politicians and circulates in the high-society of Washington; his lover is the journalist Emek Yoglu (Moritz Bleibtreu). One afternoon, Car brings his client and friend Lynn Lockner (Kristin Scott Thomas), who is the wife of the politician Larry Lockner (Willem Dafoe), to meet her lover Robbie Kononsberg (Steven Hartley) at his apartment. Out of the blue, Lynn comes shaking to his car and tells that Robbie is murdered in his apartment. Lynn tells that she can not call the police, since Larry is investigating a financial scandal with the company Ultimate that is istrated by Robbie and the scandal would destroy her husband. Car brings her home, returns to the crime scene and calls the police. However, the ambitious district attorney Mungo Tenant (William Hope) receives inside information about the love affair of Robbie and Lynn and presses Car to betray Lynn. But Car and Emek prefer to investigate the murder by themselves and find a network of power and corruption."The Walker" is a pretentious story of power and corruption in the American politics. Woody Harrelson is absolutely miscast in the role of a classy gay, since neither of these characteristics fits with his profile. The plot is exaggerated and confused, and the resolution is absolutely unreasonable. The logic conclusion should be with the powerful Jack Delorean destroying Car and Emek that have threatened him. Car inclusive tells him that he is aware of the whole situation. My vote is five.Title (Brazil): "O Acompanhante" ("The Escort")
irish23 A worn-out plot of a man who takes the rap for a woman in a murder case + the equally worn-out plot of an outsider on the inside who eventually is shut out.With such an outstanding case, one would think the film would rise above its hackneyed origins. But scene after scene drones by with no change in intensity, no character arcs, and inexplicable behavior.The homosexuality theme was completely unnecessary -- or on the other hand, completely unexplored. It seemed to be included only to titillate the viewers. When will Hollywood learn that having gay characters does not automatically make a more compelling picture?A regrettably dreadful movie. When will Lauren Bacall pick a good one? I expected better of her and Kristin Scott Thomas. This one is definitely one to miss.
Neil Turner UrbanDictionary.com defines "walker" as "A man, asexual or homosexual, who can safely escort a woman, married or otherwise, to a social event, without hint of suspicion or relationship beyond friendship. A safe male companion." with the accompanying note: "Before becoming so waspish, Truman Capote was a reliable walker for Park Avenue society matrons." This film is a look at the life of such a man.Carter Page, III is a rich ne'er-do-well in Washington, D.C. who spends his time socializing with the wives of the Capital's elite. Carter's father was a powerful congressman for whom - even after his death - Carter harbors hate and resentment. Carter's father disliked and chided him for his sexuality and aimless existence. In DC society, Carter is reminded almost daily of his father's reputation as a respected congressman. His confidential reply to friends is that his father left congress many times richer than when he entered and honor had nothing to do with that reality.Carter has an on and off relationship with a struggling artist but is not willing to give up his glamorous life as a walker in order to commit to a long-term bond with the other man.One of the favors he performs for the wife of Larry Lockner, the minority leader of the Senate, is to drive her to assignations with her lobbyist lover. On one of these occasions, Lynn returns to the car in a state of shock having found her lover murdered. She begs Carter not to call the police and to drive her home. Carter does so and then returns to the apartment of the murdered man, calls the police, and says that it was he who discovered the body.Carter immediately falls under suspicion and spends the rest of the film in an attempt to unravel the truth of the murder. During that time, he is basically forsaken by all of his "friends" in the DC scene with his lover, Emek being his only true .Twenty-eight years ago, Paul Schrader directed American Gigolo. This film calls up many of the elements of that earlier success. It is a beautifully worked tale of an outsider sought out by insiders who finds himself in a situation where is needed but none comes from those who are able to exercise to greatest amount of power. We are privy to the private life of the man - one that he never exposes to the outside world. And we find that this man who is supposedly immoral - or, at least, amoral - is the most moral of them all.The Walker is filled with well-known stars starting with Woody Harrelson in the leading role. I was somewhat put off by his heavy Southern Virginia accent, but in retrospect, such an affected way of speech might be actually observed in such a man - think of Truman Capote. In any case, Harrelson gives a wonderfully restrained performance far different from most of his characters. He enables you to understand and care for Carter.Lauren Bacall is always a treat to watch, and she gives this film a wonderful Washington grande dame who is so wise to the ways of all yet not totally immune to the forces of the tides of opinion.Carter's friend, Lynn is played by Kristin Scott Thomas, and her character is probably the most complex in the film. She surely is an actress who can portray such a character with great insight.Add Lily Tomlin as another DC socialite, Ned Beatty as her powerful businessman husband, and Willem Dafoe as Lynn's ruthless politician husband and you can hardly go wrong with the spate of great performances.The Walker has numerous references to the evilness and deceit of the current istration but gives all politics, politicians, and their ers their honest due. It entertains and causes you to think. For what more could you ask?
