It's common with Oliver Stone’s films that political elements overshadow discussions of the actual movie itself, leading viewers to react based on those politics rather than the film's merits. While I share the political viewpoint presented in *Salvador*, I’ll attempt to set that aside for now and focus on the film itself; it’s worth noting, however, that the story highlights incidents deserving of greater attention …

It’s easy to fall in line with what everyone else thinks. Drawing from journalist Richard Boyle’s actual experiences, the film takes place in 1980, and finds Boyle deeply embroiled in both the turmoil of El Salvador and his own personal struggles. People often overlook just how talented Oliver Stone can be; put aside his constant knack for causing controversy, and there are films he's made that are powerful and…