Review of The Walker (2007) by Matt K — 18 Feb 2008
I'm a Schrader fan and maybe that blinds me a bit or maybe it just gives me a better lens with which to view The Walker. The film begins by panning around the decor of a wealthy room which alludes to the characters it will be studying - all of whom essentially live as assets to the rich and wealthy of D.
C. The film is far more an intriguing character study than intense thriller and this may loose some viewers expecting a titillating plot. What the plot does contribute is a context for the protagonist (played amazingly by Harrelson) to realize who he is.
Towards the end of the film he says, "Richard's death, that's not a mystery. A man trying to win his father's approval who's been dead for ten years, that's a mystery." Schrader is much less interested in solving the plot's mystery than in highlighting the downfalls of Harrelson's character.
The film is the third in Schrader's "man in the room" series ("American Gigolo" and "Light Sleeper" preceding it) and the aesthetic seems to portray this. A great movie.
This review of The Walker (2007) was written by Matt K on 18 Feb 2008.
The Walker has generally received mixed reviews.
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