Walker Is Wild and Wonderful!

Just watched the fabulous upcoming DVD release of Walker (out on Criterion). Director Alex Cox’s (Repo Man) 1987 visionary surreal allegory based on the true 19th century American adventurer William Walker (Ed Harris), who, with a band of mercenaries invaded and crowned himself president of Nicaragua (from 1855-57). Harris cuts a fabulous figure with his steely, incandescent blue eyes and large brimmed black hats foolheartedly striding through war zones as if convinced he is so touched by God he is invincible.

Cox throws in anachronistic helicopters, Newsweek magazines and automobiles to make parallels to the 1980 contra war, and at the time, audiences stayed away in droves. It’s a shame too, because it feels even more startling, original and prescient now. And Joe Strummer’s glorious original score is haunting as it is memorably melodic.