Loosely
based on a real-life operation during World War II, this action-adventure
from director John Woo stars Nicolas Cage as Joe Enders, a Marine
traumatized by the loss of his entire platoon in the Solomon Islands during
an ambush he believes was deadlier than necessary due to his indecision.
Suffering from eardrum damage in Hawaii, Joe manages to be declared fit for
duty once again thanks to a sympathetic nurse (Frances O'Connor), but his
new assignment isn't what he expects. Joe is ordered to safeguard a Navajo
soldier named Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach) because the military has developed a
new secret code based on the near-dead Navajo language that is proving
unbreakable to the Japanese. Any soldier that speaks Navajo is an immediate
asset, including Ben and his pal, Charlie Whitehorse (Roger Willie). Joe's
orders are to "baby sit" Ben during the invasion of Saipan, protecting him
if possible, but — if the code-talker's capture becomes imminent — to kill
him before he falls into enemy hands. Meanwhile, Charlie is to be guarded by
affable harmonica player Ox Henderson (Christian Slater). Joe reluctantly
accepts this new duty as a way to get back into the war, and in the ensuing
carnage, his nearly suicidal acts of bravery make him a hero while Ben
becomes paralyzed by fear. Determined to live up to Joe's example, Ben
musters up his courage, even in the face of racism from a fellow soldier
(Noah Emmerich), and ends up rescuing his own protector behind enemy lines
by briefly posing as a Japanese soldier. Despite their growing mutual
respect, Joe is eventually forced to take an action that threatens to
shatter his bond with Ben, as the war's tragic losses strike closer to home
for both men. Windtalkers co-stars Peter Stormare, Jason Isaacs, and Mark
Ruffalo. | Nicolas Cage | Joe Enders |
| Adam Beach | Ben Yahzee |
| Peter Stormare | Hjelmstad |
| Noah Emmerich | Chick |
| Mark Ruffalo | Pappas |
| Brian Van Holt | Harrington |
| Martin Henderson | Nellie |
| Roger Willie | Charlie Whitehorse |
| Frances O'Connor | Rita |
| Christian Slater | Ox Henderson |
| Jason Isaacs | Major Mellitz |
Genre/Type - War, War Drama, Combat Films
Produced by - Lion Rock
Release - Jun 14, 2002 (USA)
Released by - MGM
Running time - 134 min.
Enigma (2001, Michael Apted)