Walker (1987)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Walker (1987) – A. Cox

Director Alex Cox (famous for Repo Man, 1984, and Sid and Nancy, 1986), here takes a stab at a historical biopic of William Walker, an American “Filibuster” who became the self-appointed President of Nicaragua in 1856.  Of course, Cox’s focus on Nicaragua was no accident, given Ronald Reagan’s then-current efforts to undermine the Sandinistas by providing (illegal) aid to the anti-government “Contras”.  However, Cox clearly did not set out to make a serious film, instead presenting Walker’s time in Nicaragua (after an earlier, very bloody, foray in Mexico) as almost comic chaos, with cartoonish violence and anachronistic dialogue and props (from the 1980s, not the 1850’s).  Ed Harris plays Walker serene and very nearly straight but with just a tinge of lunacy that starts to manifest in his decisions (to legalise slavery, to burn the town of Granada, etc.).  In fact, a quick look at Wikipedia suggests that Rudy Wurlitzer’s script has stayed very close to the facts of Walker’s life and exploits (and ultimate death by firing squad).  But, as I said, this is not a reverential treatment (nor should it be, given the imperialistic and inhumane actions of the “hero”) – only as the final credits scrawl do we get reminded of the current US actions in Nicaragua, underscoring the otherwise implicit statement being made.  After the film flopped, Cox found that he was never again able to make a movie with Hollywood backing.  Yet his subversive approach here might be the best way to present the horrors of history, keeping you laughing in order to stop you from crying. But the take-home points still get through.