Review by Zandro Salvo.

Written and directed by legend Paul Schrader (screenwriter of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull) , The Walker falls slightly short of Schrader’s legendary offerings but does capture his superior talent for dialogue and overall storytelling. The cast sparkles with Woody Harrelson playing protagonist Carter Page III with welcomed support from Lauren Bacall, Kristen Scott Thomson, and Lilly Tomlin. Harrelson simply inhabits his role as a gay escort to the wives of political powerhouses in Washington. Page begins to examine the façade of his ‘walker’ lifestyle when he gets caught up in a political scandal with one of the women he escorts. Going above and beyond his usual requisites as a companion, Page wrongfully takes the place of the guilty woman. He soon realizes that friends are few and far between in Washington and those with integrity are almost non existent. Schrader chooses the perfect setting and protagonist to deliver a scathing and overly-smart commentary on contemporary American society. Page’s charm and wit keep the movie’s political agenda below radar and sometimes all together inaccessible but, in doing so, one can’t help but feel part of the falsity of high society. Harrelson indeed proves the perfect escort - if only in the shallow waters of American politics.

The Walker
Paul Schrader | USA | 2007 | 107min

Sun. Oct. 7 | 9:30pm | Ridge Theatre
Tue. Oct. 9 | 2:30pm | Empire Granville Theatre
Wed. Oct. 10 | 9:30pm | Empire Granville Theatre