Poster for Salvador

Salvador

1986, Drama, 1h 57m

29 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

Despite its somewhat disjointed narrative, Oliver Stone's Salvador is a vivid and powerful political drama that sets an early tone for the director's similarly provocative future projects. Read critic reviews

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Salvador Photos

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Movie Info

Unable to find work in America because of his penchant for booze and drugs, photojournalist Richard Boyle (James Woods) heads to El Salvador with his DJ friend Doctor Rock (James Belushi) to see if he can get a gig covering the country's ongoing civil war. Boyle decides it's time to flee the country when the violence escalates to a level that even he is uncomfortable with, but his relationship with an El Salvadorian woman (Elpidia Carrillo) complicates matters.

Rating:

R
Genre:

Drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

Oliver Stone
Producer:

Gerald Green, Oliver Stone
Release Date (Theaters):

Apr 23, 1986 original
Release Date (Streaming):

Jun 5, 2001
Runtime:

1h 57m
Distributor:

MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Polygram

Cast & Crew

James Woods
Richard Boyle

Jim Belushi
Doctor Rock

Michael Murphy
Ambassador Thomas Kelly

John Savage
John Cassady ('Newsweek' reporter, photographer)

Elpidia Carrillo

Elpidia Carrillo
María

Tony Plana
Maj. Maximiliano 'Major Max' Casanova (presdential candidate)

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Salvador

All Critics (29) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (3)

Full Review… Richard Combs Sight & Sound

Full Review… Catherine Rambeau Detroit Free Press

Full Review… Derek Adams Time Out

Full Review… Variety Staff Variety

Full Review… Walter Goodman New York Times

Full Review… Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times

Full Review… Jordan M. Smith IONCINEMA.com

Full Review… Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia

Full Review… David Nusair Reel Film Reviews

Full Review… Fernando F. Croce CinePassion

Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com

Full Review… Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault

View All Critic Reviews (29)

Audience Reviews for Salvador

Aug 13, 2015

There's plenty of substance, the problem is Stone's insistence on filming it like a documentary which leaves the tone floundering.

Super Reviewer
Jul 09, 2014

"..... remains one of his strongest works to date." Maybe so, but I found it quite dated.

Super Reviewer
Mar 07, 2014

With great regret, Salvador doesn't get the air play that it should. This chronicle of the turmoil in El Salvador is powerful and gives honour to those lost in the conflict.

Super Reviewer
Mar 15, 2013

Its definitely one of the better films about American journalists embedded in a foreign country. The politics are understandably angry and James Woods' scrappy performance is just great.

Alec B Super Reviewer

See All Audience reviews