Windtalkers (2002)

Two U.S. Marines in WWII are assigned to protect Navajo Marines who use their native language as an unbreakable radio cypher.

Director:

John Woo

Writers:

John Rice, Joe Batteer

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Adam Beach, Peter Stormare

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage	...	Sergeant Joe Enders
Adam Beach	...	Private Ben Yahzee
Peter Stormare	...	Gunnery Sergeant Hjelmstad
Noah Emmerich	...	Private Chick
Mark Ruffalo	...	Private Pappas
Brian Van Holt	...	Private Harrigan
Martin Henderson	...	Private Nellie
Roger Willie	...	Private Charlie Whitehorse
Frances O'Connor	...	Rita
Christian Slater	...	Sgt. Pete 'Ox' Anderson
Jason Isaacs	...	Major Mellitz
William Morts	...	Fortino
Cameron Thor	...	Mertens
Kevin Cooney	...	Ear Doctor
Holmes Osborne	...	Colonel Hollings

Storyline

During World War II when the American's needed to find a secure method of communicating they devised a code using the Navajo language. So Navajos were recruited to become what they call code talkers. They would be assigned to a unit and would communicate with other units using the code so that even though the enemy could listen they couldn't understand what they were saying. And to insure that the code is protected men are assigned to protect it at all costs. One of these men is Joe Enders, a man who sustained an injury that can make him unfit for duty but he manages to avoid it and is told of his duty and that the man he is suppose to protect is Ben Yahzee. Initially there is tension but the two men learn to get along.

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Plot Keywords:

american indian | code | duty | u.s. marine | battle | 

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Taglines:

America Has The Last Word.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Certificate:

18A

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Official site [South Korea]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Navajo Japanese

Release Date:

14 June 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

La voix des vents

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$115,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$244,595 (Brazil) (25 October 2002)

Gross:

$368,655 (Brazil) (1 November 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Lion Rock Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min 153 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Steve J. Termath was originally cast for the role of Pvt. Nellie. However, the role went to Martin Henderson when Termath took a brief hiatus from acting for actual military service, enlisting in the US Army Reserves.

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Goofs

After the combat scene where Charlie is killed Ben looks at his body. Right when Charlie is shown you can see him swallow.

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Quotes

Ben Yahzee: I'm Ben Yahzee, I guess the corps paired us up, may I join you?
Joe Enders: You're blocking my view.
Ben Yahzee: Sorry.
[about the food]
Ben Yahzee: What do they call this crap anyway?
Joe Enders: Marines call it chow.
Ben Yahzee: Well there is a propaganda effort there.
Ben Yahzee: [he accidentally knocks over his cup of coffee] Shit, sorry, you could have mine.
[he then accidentally spills the coffe all over his food]
Joe Enders: What did you say your name was again?
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in American Dad!: Hurricane! (2011)

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Soundtracks

IÄ 'OE E KA LÄ
Traditional
Performed by Kunewa Mook and Hula Hälau 'O Kamuela

User Reviews

Ridiculous

I thought this was a film about Navajo code talkers. Well, it's not. While there are a couple of Navajos in the film, the story revolves around Nicolas Cage winning WWII all by himself. This guy's incredible and makes John Wayne look like a wimp. Every time the Marines are in trouble, up jumps good old Nicolas Cage with his Thompson and POOF! the battle is WON! I wonder how we won WWII without Nicolas Cage? The film has a LOT of combat footage and most of that is very well done. That alone is worth a watch but don't expect to learn much of anything about the Navajo code talkers. You should read about them, because theirs was an important part of history, but they're a minor part in this film. I gave it a 6, only because of the good combat footage.