User reviews

The Walker is about a profession many of us aren't aware of: socialites like Mr. Carter Page III, who escort ladies who happened to be the wives of senators and congressman around Washington DC and play cards and socialize (hence the 'social' part of the title). But it's also about a murder mystery, where a man is killed who is connected with Lynn Lockner, married to senator Larry Lockner. Who killed him, for what motive, and what are the connections and the fall-out of the scandal, are all a part of the narrative for Paul Schrader, the mind-games of Washington, the slick veneer and quietly accepted facts of corruption and greed and, usually, scandal. But it's also about this man, the Walker, how he is viewed by the women he is polite to (indeed his politeness is pointed out as a weakness, as "Don't be so polite" in this DC society), and his own self flagged by the legacy of his father, a hero in the eyes of many in DC. Oh, and he's gay, though this is only the ice on the cake.

For Paul Schrader, it's a mature work that shows him skillfully working out this side of DC that is fresh in perspective. He is able to write the dramatic scenes much better, however, than those of that of a thriller. One senses Schrader's investment in his own material hit high points when he just has two people in a room talking about the heart of a matter, like an argument between Carter and Emek that is really all about Carter's father but exactly about Carter the whole time, or a scene between Carter and Lauren Bacall's elder lady when he finds out a vital piece of information (the "black sheep" dialog). Scenes like those are very good, while a chase scene down an alley feels weaker, filmed with tired and repetitive dutch angles and close-ups.

So, if it isn't quite one of Schrader's best films, albeit not his worst, it is definitely an achievement for Harrelson. He disappears into the character of Carter Page III (note the III) as an effeminate but strong-willed Southern man who hides his baldness with a hair piece and keeps his politeness and calm demeanor as something that is partly natural and partly a cover for what is really deep down someone who has disappointed others around him. It's so fascinating to see this actor who, indeed, once was a co-star in White Men Can't Jump, tackle such a complex character and succeed in every scene with depth and sensitivity and subtlety. He is nothing less than totally absorbing, especially up against old pros like Bacall and Ned Beatty.

A rather forgettable mystery bolstered by a remarkable lead performance and some good supporting performances, as well. The lead is played by Woody Harrelson, in my mind one of the most undervalued actors of his generation. He plays Carter Page III, a dandy fop in Washington D.C. who spends his life escorting the wives of politicians to parties and functions that their husbands don't wish to attend. He accompanies Kristin Scott Thomas to her lover's apartment one day, and she finds him there dead. Harrelson protects Thomas from getting involved, but entangles himself in the investigation. And when he and his lover (Moritz Bleibteu) begin investigating on their own, they open a whole new can of worms. To me, the mystery seems pretty half-baked. I think, even at the end, I only kind of understood why the man was murdered. Director Schraeder is far more interested in the character of Carter Page III, but even when he dives headlong into character development, it can feel forced. It's mostly only because of Harrelson that the film works at all. I'd recommend the film solely for his performance. Also in the cast are Lauren Bacall, Lily Tomlin and Ned Beatty, but none of them are given all that much to do. Besides Harrelson, Thomas and Bleibtreu provide fine work.

This film is about a male escort getting involved in a murder investigation that happened in the circle of powerful men's wives.

I thought "The Walker" would be thrilling and engaging, but I was so wrong. The pacing is painfully and excruciatingly slow, that even after 40 minutes of the film nothing happens much. Seriously, the first hour could be condensed into ten minutes. That's how slow it is.

The fact that it lacks any thrills or action scenes aggravates the boredom. It's almost shocking that even argument scenes are so plain and devoid of emotion. Maybe it is because of the stiff upper lip of the higher social class?

It's sad that "The Walker" becomes such a boring mess, despite such a strong cast. Blame it on the poor plot and even worse pacing.

This film is one giant pant load. Paul Schrader is utterly lost in his own bad screenplay. And his directing is about as comatose as it can be without his actually having been sleepwalking during the process.

The worst though is Woody Harrelson, whom I ordinarily like when he's properly cast. He plays "the walker", a homosexual man in D.C. who plays social companion to the bored wives of the Washington elite. He couldn't have been more one dimensional if he had been cut out of a magazine and bounced around in front of the camera on a popsicle stick. His "southern accent" is that "off the rack" version that decrescendos from the beginning to the end of every line he delivers, as though the heat and humidity of the South is still draining him of every ounce of energy. It is monotonous. But, his is not the worst accent in the movie. His "boyfriend", played by Moritz Bleibtreau, attempts to affect some kind of a Mid East accent that is so clumsy he can barely deliver the bad lines written for him. He is incapable of rolling his r's in spite of the fact that in real life he is German, and speaks several languages - one of them being Italian! That's kind of a good reason to cast someone else don't ya think?

From the story, to the screenplay, to the directing, to the camera work, to the performances by the leads, this movie is bad from beginning to end. The only tolerable moments in this film came from three supporting actresses: Lily Tomlin, Lauren Bacall, and Kristin Scott Thomas. Only these three managed to make it through this movie with their dignity in tact. In fact, all three are excellent, in spite of being trapped in a really bad film. Ufortunately, no one could ever be good enough to redeem this endless series of flaws. If you like these three actresses, watch them in something else. This movie is not worth your time.

Carter Page III (Woody Harrelson) is effete, witty, charming, full of himself and full of ripe, juicy, trenchant commentary on the Washington social scene and its denizens. He has to be - it is literally his life. Carter is what's known in Washingtonian parlance as a "walker". He squires about the rich and powerful wives of the rich and powerful men on the Hill, whenever they require a male escort to attend dinners, benefits and other social gatherings. You know - the ones their husbands would rather jump off a building than attend. And because Carter is a bonafied "Friend of Dorothy," there's none of that pesky bother of having to worry if he'll climb into the wives' beds, the way he slips so smoothly into their confidences.

But somewhere between the glittering parties and the bon-mot laden games of canasta, reality bites in the form of a brutal murder; the victim being the lover of one of Carter's "special friends." Ever the dutiful confidante, Carter covers for her without realizing exactly what he's letting himself in for, especially when the connections he thought he had begin to dry up and wither like the flowers on a table from a party that ended years ago. Though he literally has spent his life putting the "art" into artifice, Carter must now look beyond the boundaries of his superficiality and that of his so-called friends and acquaintances, if he wants to save his own hide.

The "outsider looking in", even if he is part of the world that holds him at arm's length is one of director Paul Schrader's favorite themes; one he has visited repeatedly, whether he served as a writer (TAXI DRIVER), a director (AUTO FOCUS) or both (AMERICAN GIGOLO) as he does here. As he explores it yet again using the country's seat of power as his landscape, he is certainly served well by an outstanding cast.

Harrelson's acting has never been as subtle and yet powerful as he inhabits Carter, rather than just playing the character. Kristin Scott-Thomas radiates beauty and desperation as his friend-in-trouble, and the ensemble is well-rounded out by Willem Dafoe as Scott-Thomas's husband; the regal presence of Lauren Bacall; Lily Tomlin in a very restrained mode as a power broker's wife; Ned Beatty as her husband, Mary Beth Hurt as another one of Carter's "canasta" group and William Hope as an extremely unpleasant Attorney General who is very reminiscent of a certain Mr. Spitzer.

Special mention must be made of Moritz Bleibtreu as Emek, Carter's German-Iranian boyfriend and the only person who really stands by him when the designer crap hits the fan, and has nothing to gain from it but his partner's love. (Well, there IS the matter of finding a gallery to exhibit his politically-charged photo art, based explicitly on the the Abu Ghraib scandal). But kudos to Bleibtreu for matching Harrelson as they modulate the complexities of their relationship without falling back on the usual stereotypical tics and camp flourishes.

With the lush production design and costuming augmented by the oh-so fitting songs of Brian Ferry (which Anne Dudley's nearly ambient score is based upon), THE WALKER is a pretty film to look at and be taken in by...as pretty and alluring as Carter is himself. Until you discover - as he himself does - that underneath all the trappings, the wealth, the elitist vanity is a void, where friendship, compassion, love, fidelity...not a single one of those things really exists. The movie isn't so much about him solving the murder mystery that hangs over him like the Sword of Damocles, but the "mystery of his own life" - finding all of those things he traded in for life among the political elite.

Not a light and frivolous way to pass the time, much like most Schrader films. In fact, many viewers might turn it off before getting halfway through. But the Oscar-worthy work from Harrelson is definitely worth sticking around for.

Plot is not worth discussion even if it hints at corruption, murder, power and the rest of thriller related topics. Characters are interesting though sometimes. Not realistic but interesting nevertheless.

Development is slow like tea drinking ceremony. Visuals not stunning, but good enough to ease the eye strain. Good movie to watch after dinner before going to bed - nothing shocking too much, nothing overexciting. Movie sitcom style.

I liked Woody - excellent performance. Had to fight the plot inadequacy and did the job pretty good. The rest are bearable though very predictable. The whole is watchable and better than most TV shows.

Carter Page III (Woody Harrelson), an openly gay escort who caters to Washington D.C.'s society ladies, becomes involved in a murder case as a suspect.

Woody Harrelson was allegedly disappointed in his performance and therefore did not do any publicity. I can see that. While I think he did fine and the film as a whole is outstanding, the voice he uses never really seems to be spot-on with what you might expect from the character.

Unfortunately, I am not able to give this film a proper review because I have not seen "American Gigolo". This was originally designed as a sequel but ended up being its own film. I still think it would be better to review this one after comparing them.

No one have ever doubt in Paul Schrader's capability whose familiar subject is to give a lecture on human nature and how it affected by urban society . Many of his screenplays considered to be the best of 70's and 80's ("Taxi Driver" and "Raging Bull", to name a few). However, "The Walker" is a different story. It's kind of movie that can test your tolerance. To all mundane situations and endless dialog that you need to go through, the payback wasn't much as good as you would've expected.

This is Paul Schrader's perfect companion piece to "American Gigolo". Imagine Richard Gere's Julian Kaye got 30 years older, came out of the closet and moved to Washington DC. Carter Page III (Woody Harrelson) is an escort whose job is to companion some aging, high society ladies around town. His best clients are Lynn Locklear (Kristin Scott Thomas), Natalie Van Miter (Lauren Bacall), and Abigail Delorean (Lily Tomlin). But soon after Carter becomes a suspect as murderer to Lynn's secret lover, he realized that how superficial friendship he has is. There might be only him and his boyfriend, Emek (Moritz Bleibtreu), whom he can really rely on.

Made no mistake about it, "The Walker" is a well-crafted film. The production design is neat. Dialogues are sharp and sometime they're mesmerizing. All actors did absolutely good job especially Woody Harrelson who is brilliants as protagonist role. His presence and mannerism really embodied the character he played. And from three women in this film, a Hollywood legend, Lauren Bacall is a standout. Her character is brutally honest and funny to watch.

I can see why people are complaining about the film. They said it's pointless and pretty boring. "The Walker" runs only 108 minutes but it seemed much longer. Well, I do agree. But I have one thing to point out for the audience. I think it was the director's intention to shoot the film. It's an old-school kind of political-drama film used to be in 70's (ie. "Conversation", "Network", "The Parallax View", etc.). What we have here is not a big picture of the whole story but only handful (or one) of character's study.

But, as I said before, the payback wasn't satisfied me. Carter Page III's story is barely intriguing. We knew that he has an issue that he must deal with. But the movie didn't use that opportunity to make us root for him. In the end, it's rather disappointing to see his problems suddenly vanished. I think "The Walker" has strong characterization and witty dialog. So shame that it's destroyed by mediocre plot and sloppy last act.

This is the only film I have ever chosen to walk out of. I don't remember ever watching a murder mystery before in which I really couldn't care less who committed the crime. The characters are pompous and vulgar - some might say that is the point, but they are also completely one-dimensional.

The plot was dull, particularly in the first half hour before anything of note occurred. Some of the themes (e.g. not living up to his father's legacy) were very hackneyed. The political messages were predictable and smugly delivered.

Harrelson's performance is impressive and displays his versatility as an actor, but that can't make up for the fact that his voice and mannerisms are profoundly irritating.

In Washington, the sophisticated homosexual Carter "Car" Page III (Woody Harrelson) is a "walker", escorting the wives of powerful men in social events, clubs and shopping. Car is the son and grandson of famous politicians and circulates in the high-society of Washington; his lover is the journalist Emek Yoglu (Moritz Bleibtreu). One afternoon, Car brings his client and friend Lynn Lockner (Kristin Scott Thomas), who is the wife of the politician Larry Lockner (Willem Dafoe), to meet her lover Robbie Kononsberg (Steven Hartley) at his apartment. Out of the blue, Lynn comes shaking to his car and tells that Robbie is murdered in his apartment. Lynn tells that she can not call the police, since Larry is investigating a financial scandal with the company Ultimate that is administrated by Robbie and the scandal would destroy her husband. Car brings her home, returns to the crime scene and calls the police. However, the ambitious district attorney Mungo Tenant (William Hope) receives inside information about the love affair of Robbie and Lynn and presses Car to betray Lynn. But Car and Emek prefer to investigate the murder by themselves and find a network of power and corruption.

"The Walker" is a pretentious story of power and corruption in the American politics. Woody Harrelson is absolutely miscast in the role of a classy gay, since neither of these characteristics fits with his profile. The plot is exaggerated and confused, and the resolution is absolutely unreasonable. The logic conclusion should be with the powerful Jack Delorean destroying Car and Emek that have threatened him. Car inclusive tells him that he is aware of the whole situation. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "O Acompanhante" ("The Escort")

THE WALKER (defined as a man who escorts rich ladies around town in their leisure) is both a pungent political comment and a fine mystery from Paul Schrader who both wrote and directed this smart film and had the good fortune to surround his tale with a fine cast of actors. It may not be a film for everyone, but it will satisfy viewers who tire of superficial fluff films, allowing time to ponder the way we live and converse today.

Carter Page III (Woody Harelson in one of his finest performances) is an openly gay, well- heeled, dapper man about town who devotes his life to pleasing the wealthy wives of men in high government levels in Washington, DC. Together with Abby (Lily Tomlin), Natalie (Lauren Bacall), Chrissy (Mary Beth Hurt), and Lynn (Kristin Scott Thomas) the group gossips, plays canasta in an expensive hotel parlor, and confides secrets that are surefire rumor fodder. Lynn is escorted by Carter to her lover's home for a tryst only to find the lover murdered. Carter attempts to protect Lynn from scandal only to become implicated himself. Carter discovers secrets about his own insecurities, and while he is solidly supported by his lover Emek (the excellent Moritz Bleibtreu), an artist of strange works that prove subtle background connotations of the mystery that is unwinding, he must face the realities of his decision when confronting husbands, lawyers, police, and intelligence agents (portrayed by such fine actors as Ned Beatty, Willem Defoe, William Hope and Geff Francis). The story is, in many ways, an examination of the corruption in Washington, DC - a fact that may explain why it did not enjoy a long theater run.

For viewers who appreciate fine dialogue and a smart story with well-delineated characters portrayed by superb actors, this is a film that should not be neglected. Grady Harp

Carter Page III – or Car to his friends - is a gay man who works as a paid escort for some of the most well-connected wives in Washington D.C, accompanying them to functions that their husbands have neither the time nor the interest in attending. A Southern gentleman by both breeding and birth, Car - thanks to his role as sympathetic ear to these gabby dowagers - seems to be privy to more of the inner workings of the snooty Beltway crowd than almost anyone else in town. But Car learns that such knowledge often comes with a steep price, when he agrees to help cover up for one of his clients, the wife of the Minority Leader of the Senate (Kristen Scott Thomas), after the lobbyist she's been having a secret affair with turns up stabbed to death in his own home. Before he knows it, Car has become a prime suspect in the case, and when the woman he's trying to protect leaves him to twist in the wind for something she herself may have done, Car discovers just what a superficial, tenuous and unreliable a thing friendship can be.

Written and directed by Paul Schrader, "The Walker" is a subtle and quietly powerful tale of a man who has spent his whole life trying to please the people around him – principally his father - but who learns that in order to survive in this world, he must ultimately put his own concerns ahead of those of others. He also has to weigh which of the three is of greatest value: loyalty to a friend, adherence to the law or the code of self-preservation. For if he makes the wrong choice, Car might well find himself being set up as a sacrificial offering to the almighty Status Quo – an entity that is grotesquely magnified in the shallow, corrupt and cutthroat world of D.C. culture.

Combining a genteel Southern drawl and natty appearance with slightly aloof, effeminate and haughty mannerisms, Woody Harrelson fully inhabits the role of Car, making him supremely confident and strangely vulnerable at one and the same time. A seasoned cast made up of Lily Tomlin, Lauren Bacall, Ned Beatty and Willem Dafoe gives the film an air of importance and prestige it might not otherwise have had. There's also excellent work by Moritz Bleibtreu as Car's on again/off again lover who may be in over his head with some pretty shady characters who don't like the fact that he's investigating the lobbyist's death alongside Car.

This was by far the worst film I've seen in ages. The only reason I gave it a 2 rather than a 0 was for the benefit of Cabezas who gives the only decent performance in this film. Overall, the plot was very slow and unengaging. The little story there was was dragged out for far too long, this film should have been a "short" at most. The script gave the actors nothing to work off, and so they didn't (with the exception of Cabezas.) As a result, the acting was wooden and tedious, with Woody Harrelson being the most annoying in this aspect. With such a fantastic line up, I had hoped for so much more, but even the talent gathered in the cast could not make this film watchable. The worst thing about the film (after the script) was Woody Harrelson's voice -enough to make anyone walk out of the cinema.

Woody Harrelson is "The Walker" in this 2007 drama directed by Paul Schrader. It takes place in Washington, D.C., where Carter Page III (Harrelson) takes society women to parties and concerts when their husbands are out of town or don't want to attend. He's gay, very charming, with a rich family history of successful and admired men. The women love his stories and he always looks debonair.

One day, Carter drives his friend Lynn (Kristin Scott-Thomas) to her lover's house for a tryst. Both her husband and lover Robbie are well-known, and her liaison's with this lover are kept secret.

Lynn exits the house in shock and tells Carter that Robbie is dead, stabbed, and if anyone finds out she was seeing him, it will ruin her husband's career. Carter chivalrously offers to take her home and then return and report the murder himself as if he was visiting Robbie about some investments and found the body.

The police, of course, are suspicious. It's a high-profile case and they want to close it. Someone is leaking information to them also that Lynn and Robbie were lovers. Carter stands his ground, even though he's encouraged to look after his own best interests. He soon finds himself out of the social scene, and Lynn leaves town.

The story here is not about the murder, it's about Carter being used and abused by these women. He would do anything for them, but if he needed something, he wouldn't get it from any of them. It's apparent that he doesn't realize that at first. It's also apparent that being the descendant of respected men means that people keep looking at him and wondering how he got to be the way he did. He wants to do a noble thing; he wants to be loyal.

The wonderful cast includes Lauren Bacall, Ned Beatty, Lily Tomlin, and Willem Dafoe. Harrelson gives a fantastic performance as a slow-talking, dashing Southerner who normally keeps things on a superficial level and doesn't show his true feelings. Lauren Bacall is a society gossip who thinks more highly of Carter and sees her group of friends for what they are. She's great, although some didn't understand her attitude at the end of the movie. She respected Carter enough to be honest, as opposed to her friends. When you see the film, you'll know what I mean.

Scandal, politics, greed, affairs, none of this is new. And this film gives the impression that a few things were left on the cutting room floor that should have been included. This makes the film occasionally confusing. However, scandal, politics, greed, and affairs are just background for The Walker. The true story is how, in a crisis, you find out who your real friends are. You find out you don't have many. And in an atmosphere like this film's, none.

A great soundtrack accompanies The Walker, and one gets an impression of Washington society that's not very positive, but when has it been? Worth seeing for Harrelson's performance especially.