It was Oliver Stone's first feature film as a director. It came out just a few months before Platoon.

It's one of the best James Woods performances (maybe the best) of his career. He was nominated for best actor.

This is not a light movie. It has some extremely graphic scene reminiscent of the Killing Fields. It's kind of historically inaccurate from what I've read snd Stone puts his usual anti-American spin on the script in parts and sympathizes with the Commies in the El Salvador Civil War, but it's an extremely well done film that looks like it was actually shot in a warzone.

I was really taken aback at how well the film flowed and the pacing and how engaged you were as a viewer.. Even in a subject I cared little and knew nothing about. That's a rarity now it seems.

4 ...

Report Post

Posted by Amadeo

Member since Jan 2004

4893 posts

Posted on 8/26/20 at 11:37 pm to Jack Ruby

That rape scene though.

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by THRILLHO

Old Metairie near Cleary

Member since Apr 2006

50394 posts

Posted on 8/26/20 at 11:50 pm to Jack Ruby

Never heard of it (and I'm a bit of a movie buff). Will check it out. Thanks for the rec.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by Jack Ruby

Member since Apr 2014

27322 posts

Posted on 8/27/20 at 1:33 am to Amadeo

quote:
rape scene though.

One of the most depressing/saddening/frightening things I've ever seen on film. Apparently that part was basically all true as well. The way they were found. That Woods' character knew them...everything. The only doubt was who actually did it. The thought was that it was the "death squad" guys, but nobody really knew.

Praise should go out to Robert Richardson on this one as well. He was magnificent begind the camera.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by GreenRockTiger

vortex to the whirlpool of despair

Member since Jun 2020

60521 posts

Posted on 8/27/20 at 12:20 pm to Jack Ruby

Thanks for the review - I’m going to have to watch that

Unfortunately I’ve known too many ppl who have been involved and/or affected by the civil wars in Central America - so this is a topic that interests me

What was done to Bishop Romero was terrible and I want to see what this movie’s perspective is

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by Obtuse1

Westside Bodymore Yo

Member since Sep 2016

30408 posts

Posted on 8/27/20 at 12:43 pm to Jack Ruby

quote:
It was Oliver Stone's first feature film as a director.

Why are you not counting Seizure and The Hand, the latter of which was the first R rated movie I saw in the theater which in retrospect was a poor choice for a just turned 14 yo who would have enjoyed Stripes, Heavy Metal or Porky's much more at the time.

Re the rape scene. It is interesting to me that both Stone's movies made in that 12 month period each had a particularly painful to watch rape scene. Certainly, neither were forced into the plot but outside of the Accused those scenes are probably the two most visceral to
me with that subject matter.

Salvador was an excellent movie and one of the better "Hollywood" takes on Third Cinema.

Page 1