Charlie Wilson's War (Full Screen)
starring: Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian Markinson, Shiri Appleby
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Product Description:
Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca)Release Date: 08/26/2008Run time: 102 minutesRating: R
Amazon.com:
Political movies about backroom negotiations need not be dry or heavy-handed, as Charlie Wilson's War delightfully proves. Based on the true story of playboy congressman Wilson's efforts to fund Afghanistan's defense against the Soviet invasion of the 1980s, the film is borne along on breezy attitude and a peppery script by West Wing scribe Aaron Sorkin. Wilson, played by Tom Hanks (who also produced), is the perfect hero for this kind of tale, because there's nothing perfect or heroic about him: He's a highball-swilling, fanny-pinching gadabout who becomes radicalized on the issue of helping the Afghans against their mighty aggressor. He has help in the form of a right-wing Texas anti-Communist (Julia Roberts) with a genius for raising money, and a sardonic CIA operative (Philip Seymour Hoffman, stealing the show) who lacks all the social skills Wilson has in abundance. Sorkin's syncopated speech is just the ticket for director Mike Nichols, who understands exactly how to keep this kind of political comedy popping (the complicated story comes in at a hair over 90 minutes, amazingly). Some scoundrels are on the right side of the angels, and the movie's Charlie Wilson is one of them. --Robert Horton
Beyond Charlie Wilson's War on DVD
Stills from Charlie Wilson's War (Click for larger image)
Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca)Release Date: 08/26/2008Run time: 102 minutesRating: R
Amazon.com:
Political movies about backroom negotiations need not be dry or heavy-handed, as Charlie Wilson's War delightfully proves. Based on the true story of playboy congressman Wilson's efforts to fund Afghanistan's defense against the Soviet invasion of the 1980s, the film is borne along on breezy attitude and a peppery script by West Wing scribe Aaron Sorkin. Wilson, played by Tom Hanks (who also produced), is the perfect hero for this kind of tale, because there's nothing perfect or heroic about him: He's a highball-swilling, fanny-pinching gadabout who becomes radicalized on the issue of helping the Afghans against their mighty aggressor. He has help in the form of a right-wing Texas anti-Communist (Julia Roberts) with a genius for raising money, and a sardonic CIA operative (Philip Seymour Hoffman, stealing the show) who lacks all the social skills Wilson has in abundance. Sorkin's syncopated speech is just the ticket for director Mike Nichols, who understands exactly how to keep this kind of political comedy popping (the complicated story comes in at a hair over 90 minutes, amazingly). Some scoundrels are on the right side of the angels, and the movie's Charlie Wilson is one of them. --Robert Horton
Beyond Charlie Wilson's War on DVD
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Stills from Charlie Wilson's War (Click for larger image)
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - This was fun to watch
Watching this helps to give a clue to how some politics are done. In some cases like this, in unconventional ways. The end of the movie is really what strikes a cord - without giving anything away basically how after the Soviets pulled out of Afghanistan the US abandoned them and look what happened 20 years later.
Rating: - Entertaining movie is worth owning
In a very entertaining way, this movie manages to educate the viewer on America's first war in Afghanistan.Indeed, the historical/political treatment is not heavy handed, but makes this more than just an entertaining movie about a colorful Congressman (and he is colorful).If you like movies that have some historical connection, but want something that's still light enough to show just for entertainment value, this movie is perfect.And, of course, Tom Hanks does a great job.
Rating: - Surprisingly good
I didn't think this would be anywhere near as enjoyable as it is. I really liked it, and found it to be surprisingly good.
Rating: 
- Afganistan before it became fashionable
This film is an absolute genious of screenwriting, directing and acting. Charlie Wilson is an obscure congressman from Texas whose office is saturated with young female assistants seemingly ditzy but highly loyal to him; he is well connected with people of (financial) means and powerul social network.Charlie is a smart goofball - man who is astute is ways of holding (his political) power, but who also likes to get his share of fun: drugs, girls and a good glass of drink.When Charlie's lover, ... Read More
Rating: - A fresh look at that other Afganistan fracas.
Not as funny as advertised - not a belly laugh anywhere - and a bit heavy on the eff word. I rate it at 5 stars anyway, because it presents the U.S. 'clandestine services' role in thwarting the Soviet invasion, and how important that role was. It does a fair job with the casual decadence of the Washington Scene too, and mitigates it with humor. None of the acting roles are particularly demanding, but they are well done.
- This was fun to watchWatching this helps to give a clue to how some politics are done. In some cases like this, in unconventional ways. The end of the movie is really what strikes a cord - without giving anything away basically how after the Soviets pulled out of Afghanistan the US abandoned them and look what happened 20 years later.
- Entertaining movie is worth owningIn a very entertaining way, this movie manages to educate the viewer on America's first war in Afghanistan.Indeed, the historical/political treatment is not heavy handed, but makes this more than just an entertaining movie about a colorful Congressman (and he is colorful).If you like movies that have some historical connection, but want something that's still light enough to show just for entertainment value, this movie is perfect.And, of course, Tom Hanks does a great job.
- Surprisingly goodI didn't think this would be anywhere near as enjoyable as it is. I really liked it, and found it to be surprisingly good.
- Afganistan before it became fashionableThis film is an absolute genious of screenwriting, directing and acting. Charlie Wilson is an obscure congressman from Texas whose office is saturated with young female assistants seemingly ditzy but highly loyal to him; he is well connected with people of (financial) means and powerul social network.Charlie is a smart goofball - man who is astute is ways of holding (his political) power, but who also likes to get his share of fun: drugs, girls and a good glass of drink.When Charlie's lover, ... Read More
- A fresh look at that other Afganistan fracas.Not as funny as advertised - not a belly laugh anywhere - and a bit heavy on the eff word. I rate it at 5 stars anyway, because it presents the U.S. 'clandestine services' role in thwarting the Soviet invasion, and how important that role was. It does a fair job with the casual decadence of the Washington Scene too, and mitigates it with humor. None of the acting roles are particularly demanding, but they are well done.
