Paul Schrader's straight-faced Beltway potboiler The Walker begins as a simmering piece about D.C. gossip and petty scandals, then overflows into an indictment of all things Washington. Not content to be a cautionary melodrama about the real housewives of the District of Columbia, however, it fans out to encompass corporate bribery, political corruption and the war on terror.
Schrader has said the idea began as he wondered what might have happened to the Julian Kaye character of American Gigolo in midlife, but as the political climate became more and more conservative he felt the urge to make the movie more and more political. But even if you agree with the sentiment, the whole thing feels fusty and forced.
The Walker (ThinkFilm) Starring Woody Harrelson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lauren Bacall. Directed by Paul Schrader. Rated R. Time 108 minutes.