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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: THINKFILM
Salesrank: 33252
Released: May 27, 2008 |
| Our Price: $3.53 |
| Used Price: $0.78 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Set in Washington D.C., The Walker follows Carter Page (Harrelson), a popular socialite who serves as confidant, companion and card partner to the wives of the most powerful men in America. When Carter's dearest friend (Scott Thomas) finds herself on the brink of a scandal, he covers for her. Suddenly he finds himself the chief suspect in a criminal investigation and this well-connected man-about-town becomes an outcast, hounded by the police and forced to hunt down the true culprit in order to clear his name.
Description of The Walker:
With The Walker, Paul Schrader completes the "lonely man" trilogy he began with American Gigolo (1980) and Light Sleeper (1992). If his third entry lacks the cheap thrills of its predecessors--the airbrushed glamour of the former and noir atmospherics of the latter--it's still a compelling character study. Cast against type, but rising above it, Woody Harrelson plays openly gay Carter Page III. Like Richard Gere's Armani-clad escort, Carter is always dressed to the nines--and ready with a cutting quip. Instead of servicing female clients, the Southern senator’s son serves as a "walker," a chaperone for Washington DC's political wives (Schrader was inspired by Nancy Reagan associate Jerry Zipkin). Carter’s coterie includes Lynn (Kristin Scott Thomas), Natalie (Lauren Bacall), and Abigail (Lily Tomlin). When Lynn's lobbyist lover turns up dead, Carter's carefully constructed world comes crashing down. Out of loyalty, he reports the murder (though Lynn found the body), but because Carter also has ties to the victim, the authorities make him their prime suspect. With the help of sometime lover Emek (Run Lola Run's Moritz Bleibtreu), he sets out to restore his reputation. Though the literate dialogue is up to Schrader's high standards, the director slackens the pace just when he should be ratcheting up the tension. Still, few filmmakers know how to make the truism "To thine own self be true" seem less trite. Unfortunately for Carter, he has to learn that lesson the hard way. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
The Walker Reviews:
Why Woody was always ribbing Norm (Hmmmm..) 
2009-10-11 - Whoaaaa....and you thought Woody Harrelson couldn't act ? This seriously underrated film (critics generally
panned it or gave it mild approval) is very good as are most of Paul Schrader's films (though not nearly
as good as the magnificent Adam Resurrected). Very interesting script, choice of veteran female actresses
(all excellent) and editing and cinematography first-rate. I think some might be thrown off by the topic
of the film and the peculiar (in a good way im my view) film plot, but I think it is well worth the
viewing.
DEADLY dull 
2009-02-14 - There's a character in Joseph Heller's Catch-22 (Dunbar) who only participates in activities that bore him, because they'll make time go so slowly that his life will seem longer.
By that measure, Dunbar would never quit watching this film.
It's an excruciatingly slow-moving mess. Great actors in a dull, tedious-paced script.
Not worth watching, much less owning. Paul Schrader (director) at his worst. Be warned!
Rich people and loyalty 
2009-02-09 - Woody Harrelson gives a fantastic performance as a Carter, a third generation rich man who is living in DC. He is homosexual which makes his a perfect social companion to high society women married to powerful men. His manners, education, politeness and lack of sexual threat towards women allow him to glide in their company effortlessly. Their company gives him tips for investments that provide for his luxurious lifestyle. Until one day, his dear childhood friend runs into a trouble and Carter gets accused of murder he did not commit. Will carter remain loyal and protect his friend even at the price of him being accused of the crime he did not commit? Or, will he be dishonest and save his own skin? It is mesmerizing to see all his friends turn their back on him; Carter looses his job, his lover is beat up and everything that Carter has built until then starts to dissipate slowly, but surely. He never looses the temper and plays the game to the end. This is one of those stories where there is a winner and then there is a moral winner. With all of his shortcomings, Carter comes up as a moral winner. Steep price to pay, but Carter embraces it anyway. He is middle aged, his hair is gone, he is alone and left to his own device. But somehow one knows that a great guy like him must have something good going for him after all that's happened. Cast of magnificent actors accompanies Woody Harrelson on this journey: Lauren Becall, Lilly Tomplin and Kristen Scott Thomas. One must mention that Brian Ferry's music is a wonderful choice for this film.
very disappointed..
2008-09-01 - I live in the South, and I think it would be better if actors just stopped trying to imitate the "accents".
The story line was boring, we watched the whole thing hoping it would it better, but I would suggest passing on this one.
Not your typical Walker
2008-08-21 - True to the title, our featured character is not the typical walker. He chooses who he walks with real class. A view of the so called lives of government leader's wives, the story line is easy to follow up to a point. Then the reader must watch closer..... then decide who should be blamed. Even though the film is far from being a box office smash, the cast might be the real draw for viewers. Lauren Bacall can still act her part. What a woman! Woody Harrelson, as Carter Page III, portrays an out of the closet, well-dressed chaperone for the rich and famous political widows of the time. Quite the job for an individual still attempting to live up to daddy's expectations. Only thing left to say is to rent or buy it, you'll definitely get your money's worth.
