Charlie Wilson's War (DVD, 2008, Widescreen)

In one of the better movies of the year, Tom Hanks stars as Congressman Charlie Wilson in this sardonically funny and extremely relevant (given reasonably current events) historical comedy-drama surrounding the 1980s Afghan/Soviet fiasco. The Soviets were attacking Afghanistan killing hundreds of people. Why should anyone care? People are dying, right? No, the reason the United States got involved through Charlie Wilson was because the Afghans, in fear they would get blown to sh_t, started illegally coming into Pakistan which in turn p_ssed Pakistani President Mohammad Zia ul-Haq off. Charlie Wilson in an effort to fix this situation teamed up with the sixth richest woman and religious fanatic in Texas, Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) and a amusing and robust American spy for the CIA, Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to help supply Afghans with high-tech weapons to destroy Soviet fight air-craft that would try and attack their land.

Although certainly not a serious Oscar contender for Best Picture, 'Charlie Wilson's War' is probably one of the best of the many political films of the year. Academy Award Winner Mike Nichols provides solid directing as to be expected while Emmy Award Winner Aaron Sorkin (Sport's Night, The West Wing) provides a remarkable screenplay that near-flawlessly balances comedy and drama. The acting is great for the most part as well. Tom Hanks delivers his best and most enjoyable performance since his 2000 Oscar-nominated turn as a FedEx worker stranded on a tropical island in 'Cast Away'. Hanks takes a slimy character like Wilson and with his trademark charm turns him into a likable guy. Amy Adams and Ned Beatty are reliable as always, but the real stand-out performance of the film is from Philip Seymour Hoffman. Arguably the finest actor working in the film industry today, Hoffman takes a small supporting role and upstages everyone around him. From his first scene where he's screaming at his boss before violently breaking his window, Hoffman sucks you in. The only disappointing cast member is unsurprisingly overrated Hollywood starlet Julia Roberts. Hamming her way through yet another movie, Roberts' overbearing and over-the-top portrayal of a rich Texas oil woman hits all the wrong notes and is at most times flat-out annoying. At 97 minutes, the movie is short and sweet, and that isn't to say it doesn't drag at some points but when it does drag it's for a very brief amount of time.

As usual, Mike Nichols' mastery of the art of film, with sensational scene-making, wonderful acting, sharp editing, and a swift dramatic arc make a movie that's worth watching more than once. Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman headline a superb cast. Ned Beatty does a wonderful turn as Doc Long, a key figure in the House. Beatty's scene at a refugee camp is one of the most telling in any story about this war, underscoring a troubling undercurrent about the amateurishness and the parochialism that both enabled and seriously damaged the ultimate impact of American assistance to the Mujahidin in Afghanistan. We are still, in many respects, paying for this war.

However, Mike Nichols' version of this story conveniently neglects the role of the Reagan White House in this decisive confrontation with the USSR, except for a casual reference to serious criminal charges against Rep. Wilson being dropped by US DA Rudolf Giuliani. That didn't happen by accident, though you can only infer that from the movie. With Democrats in control of Congress, the White House had to find an agent for its agenda to work against the Soviets in Afghanistan. As such, Wilson was not quite a solitary hero but an asset cultivated by a Republican administration. It's too bad this isn't included, because Wilson's character, wonderfully revealed by Tom Hanks, was key to the Congressman's cultivation by the White House and by the CIA.

Julia Roberts is a revelation as Joanne Herring, the Texan multimillionaire who staged oft times embarrassing events in support of her anti-communist crusade. Nichols and the movie company seemed to revel in depicting those events, and they're both funny, wonderfully done, and disturbing.

A film not to miss, in no small part because it's the kind of big, adult story rarely seen on film anymore.

Charlie Wilson's War is packed full of stars like Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and the ever funny Philip Seymour Hoffman.

The movie is based on a real life story of Charlie Wilson a congressman from Texas. He seems to be of little importance, yet he sits on three of the most powerful funding chairs in congress.

After having his eyes open to the horror's of the USSR's occupation of Afghanistan Charlie starts a series of events that causes the defeat of the Red Army and eventually the fall of the Soviet Union.

Along the way Wilson bumps into Joanne Herring (Roberts) who prods him in the correct direction and Gust the ever cynical CIA agent who helps Wilson run his war.

The really interesting thing is how Wilson basically predicts the troubles with Afghanistan that we currently have today at the end of the movie. This is because the USA was willing to spend 500 million to wage a covert war, but not a million on schools or other infastructor.

A really interesting movie that makes you think.

5/5

Latsyrhc
Tamarack Collectibles

I watched this the first time at my sister's house, stuff was going on at the house, kids coming and going, so I couldn't really get into it. But she kept claiming what a good film it was, so low and behold she sent the dvd to me in the mail, and I gave it my full attention.

It's important to pay attention to the dialog. It is a really good film, but the subject matter is so 'war movie' its easy to tune it out, as one would when flipping thru tv channels.

What is truly amazing is that it is based on the real story, that 98 % of us out there had no idea it was going on. In 1980 I was in high school and completely oblivious to this real 'secret' war that the US was fighting in Afghanistan.

So the story was very well done. But on the dvd, you get to meet the real Charlie Wilson, and wow, what a man. He's in his later years and he has this amazing charisma. Which makes a lot of the films bits make sense.

The real Wilson has the charisma of Bill Clinton or John Wayne, very manly and attractive. I don't really think of Tom Hanks in those terms.


Charlie Wilson was able to pull off one of the most secretive covert wars in history because he was considered a fop in Washington, and no one was watching him.

I'm sure a lot of the mediocre reviews are because of the subject matter. The acting is finest anywhere, but the story is so historically important, and thus you have to give it your fullest attention to get it.

And you have to ask can you wrap a 10 year event up into a 2 hour movie.

You might consider watching the documentary that comes with the dvd on the real Charlie Wilson first... you'll get a feeling for the kind of man he is and was during that time, and then the film makes a lot more sense. I'm sure a lot of people like me, were clueless that such a war with the Soviet Union was even going on.

This is a really good film.

Blessings, Max Rainet.

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Although the film spends much time following the personal life of Charlie Wilson played by Tom Hanks, there are times that the characters actually do seem to care about what's going on in the world and shows the determination to get things done about it. Politically speaking, I'm not knowledgeable enough on this subject to enter into any discussion about the War part of this film, but seem to find a sense of irony about all the intermingling points of perspective and motives the people seem to have to make all this happen.

Julia Roberts character played Joanne Herring in this film did so quite well although this is not a role she seems to be that comfortable with or suited for.

Philip Seymour Hoffman's role was brash and forceful and helps the movie along making it the most witty and outrageous group of people interacting together in the same movie. This uncomfortable feeling seems to play on itself in movie tense and relaxed moments between Hank and Roberts.

I'm going to say 4/5 for this film.

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