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Salvador (1986)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 2

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Average Rating: 3.8/5
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While Salvador wasn't Oliver Stone's first film (a pair of offbeat horror stories preceded it), it defined his style of fiercely dramatic, politically oriented filmmaking, staked out his territory as one of the major directors of the 1980s and 1990s, and remains one of his strongest works to date. Veteran photojournalist Richard Boyle (James Woods) has been taking his camera to the world's trouble spots for over 20 years; while he does good work, Boyle's fondness for booze and drugs, and his

R, 2 hr. 3 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Oliver Stone, Rick Boyle

Jun 5, 2001

MGM Pictures, Inc.

Cast

All Critics (24) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (25) | Rotten (2) | DVD (14)

[The] crime spree feels more like bored rich kids on a joy ride than committed leftie intellectuals hastening regime change.

May 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

One look at the youthful, idealistic guerrillas, accompanied everywhere by folk music, and you know where Mr. Stone's heart lies.

May 21, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Salvador is long and disjointed and tries to tell too many stories...But the heart of the movie is fascinating.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Borgesian critique, or exotic backdrop for a scoundrel's Hollywood redemption?

April 21, 2010 Full Review Source: CinePassion | Comment
CinePassion

Though structurally messy and with uneven dialogue, Stone's independent movie captures vividly the cool, rush, and hysteria of jaded leftist American journos in the political chaos of El Slavaodr in 1980-81; James Woods Oscar-nominated turn is brilliant

September 18, 2007 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

One of Oliver Stone's best films, and absolutely James Woods' best performance.

April 9, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
eFilmCritic.com

Lean, Mean and On Point. Stone's best film.

August 2, 2006 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide

The polemic may seem obvious and at times laboured, but the action sequences are brilliant, and the film does achieve a brutal, often very moving, power.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

Still Oliver Stone's best film.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid

Brutally moving depiction of the civil war in El Salvador in 1980.

June 13, 2005 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

An emotional and political sledgehammer.

February 22, 2005 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

Woods is superb, and it is a tribute to his considerable dramatic skill that he manages to elicit sympathy for a uniquely obnoxious character.

July 30, 2003 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Woods' greatest performance

May 23, 2003 Comment
Lawrence Journal-World

Oliver Stone's gripping depiction of turmoil in Central America is bolstered by Wood's mesmerising performance as a burned out reporter.

April 25, 2003 Comment
Lawrence Journal-World
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Salvador

Off-beat actor meets eccentric director meets gritty material.

January 14, 2009
flixsterman
Randy Tippy

Super Reviewer

This is how a political drama is done, and it should be no surprise that Oliver Stone is the one to do it. I find it fitting that I watch this immediately after Hunt for Justice (how a political drama is not done). Stone understands that the political facts of El Salvador are less interesting than the human drama

August 31, 2010
hunterjt13
Jim Hunter

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Salvador (1986) (DE)
  • Salvador (1986) (UK)
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