Hemdale. Director Oliver Stone; Producer Gerald Green, Oliver Stone; Screenplay Oliver Stone, Richard Boyle; Camera Robert Richardson; Editor Claire Simpson; Music Georges Delerue; Art Director Bruno Rubeo
James Woods
James Belushi
Michael Murphy
John Savage
Elpidia Carrillo
Tony Plana
The tale of American photojournalist Richard Boyle's adventures in strife-torn Central America, Salvador is as raw, difficult, compelling, unreasonable, reckless and vivid as its protagonist.
James Woods portrays the real-life Boyle, who at the outset is shown to be at his lowest ebb as a virtual bum and professional outcast in San Francisco.
With no particular prospects, he shanghais fun-loving buddy James Belushi for the long drive down to (El) Salvador, where Woods has left behind a native girlfriend and where he thinks he might be able to pick up some freelance work.
The film has an immediacy, energy and vividness that is often quite exciting, and the essential truth of much of what director Oliver Stone has put on display will prove bracing for many viewers.
1986: Nominations: Best Actor (James Woods), Original Screenplay
(Color) Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1986. Running time: 123 MIN.
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