JasonEvans
12-09-2007, 08:23 AM
Charlie Wilson's War hits theaters in about 2 weeks but I got to see a sneak a few days ago. It stars Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Philip Seymour Hoffman in a film directed by Mike Nichols with a script from Aaron Sorkin. In terms of talent on the project, you'd be hard-pressed to surpass this flick.
And I am pleased to report that all of them bring their A-game to this movie- especially Sorkin whose gift for witty, quick banter that is both funny and insightful makes him perhaps the finest writer around (especially when it comes to politics). The movie zips along at a fun pace and never loses your interest. It relies on humor a lot more than drama, which is a little awkward at times and will probably keep it from getting too much Oscar notice, but it makes for an enjoyable ride and a real audience-pleaser.
The film, if you did not know, is based on the true story of Texas congressman Charlie Wilson (Hanks). Wilson is smart and handsome and enjoys the perks of congressional life, especially the women. His office is populated with gorgeous females and he seems to date a different woman every night. On the side, he is a congressman who happens to serve on the subcommittee that controls the CIA's covert operations budget.
http://d.yimg.com/movies.aunz.yimg.com/2005/photos/main/57286.jpg
At the urging of a beautiful and rich girlfriend/political activist (Roberts) he visits refugee camps where Afghans have fled the 1980 Soviet invasion. What he sees there changes him and when he gets back to Washington he begins talking to the abrasively honest CIA officer (Hoffman) in charge of helping out the Afghans. Probably less than a dozen people really know what went on behind closed doors in the congressional meetings that ended up funding the Afghan war effort to the tune of something like a billion dollars, but the film implies that Wilson's wheeling and dealing made it happen.
http://www.canmag.com/images/front/movies20072/charliewilson4.jpg
I mentioned the word Oscar and I see 3 potential nominations from this film-- Hanks for best actor, Hoffman for supporting actor, and certainly Sorkin for his adapted screenplay. Julia Roberts has not made a movie in 3 years (unless you count loaning her voice to the spider in Charlotte's Web) and her role in this film is not all that huge. Hanks and Hoffman really own the flick and their interaction is classic. The scene where they meet for the first time in Hanks' office is hysterical and brilliantly written.
The best part about this movie is that it will teach you a little bit about a fairly important historical event. What's more, the lessons from what we did in Afghanistan AFTER THE WAR ENDED can be applied to the situation we are in over in Iraq right now. Sorkin is clearly aware of this but the film does not hammer you over the head with politics or any kind of liberal/conservative agenda. It is just a good time and some stellar writing/acting. The nice thing is that the history and politics of the film are presented in such an engaging fashion that just about anyone can enjoy this movie. It has some nudity and sex/drug themes so I would not take a 12-year-old to see it, but just about anyone over that age should find it enjoyable.
I realize I did not say anything negative about it. I suppose some folks may find it a bit offputting to treat what could be a serious subject with humor and fun. The war/action scenes are pretty weak often mixing real historical footage with very poorly re-created CGI effects. The first time where the Afghans shoot down a Russian helicopter features some laughably bad acting by the bumbling Afghan freedom fighters. The movie is rather simplistic at times and the characters lack nuance and depth. It might have been nice to know what brought Charlie Wilson to his womanizing, drug-using ways or other darker sides of some of the characters.
I think the bottom line is that this movie is not trying to be serious or write the definitive history of Charlie Wilson and the Afghan war. Sometimes it is nice to just sit back and have a good time in a film. That is what you get here.
--Jason "Hoffman is really fabulous here-- he steals every scene he is in" Evans
And I am pleased to report that all of them bring their A-game to this movie- especially Sorkin whose gift for witty, quick banter that is both funny and insightful makes him perhaps the finest writer around (especially when it comes to politics). The movie zips along at a fun pace and never loses your interest. It relies on humor a lot more than drama, which is a little awkward at times and will probably keep it from getting too much Oscar notice, but it makes for an enjoyable ride and a real audience-pleaser.
The film, if you did not know, is based on the true story of Texas congressman Charlie Wilson (Hanks). Wilson is smart and handsome and enjoys the perks of congressional life, especially the women. His office is populated with gorgeous females and he seems to date a different woman every night. On the side, he is a congressman who happens to serve on the subcommittee that controls the CIA's covert operations budget.
http://d.yimg.com/movies.aunz.yimg.com/2005/photos/main/57286.jpg
At the urging of a beautiful and rich girlfriend/political activist (Roberts) he visits refugee camps where Afghans have fled the 1980 Soviet invasion. What he sees there changes him and when he gets back to Washington he begins talking to the abrasively honest CIA officer (Hoffman) in charge of helping out the Afghans. Probably less than a dozen people really know what went on behind closed doors in the congressional meetings that ended up funding the Afghan war effort to the tune of something like a billion dollars, but the film implies that Wilson's wheeling and dealing made it happen.
http://www.canmag.com/images/front/movies20072/charliewilson4.jpg
I mentioned the word Oscar and I see 3 potential nominations from this film-- Hanks for best actor, Hoffman for supporting actor, and certainly Sorkin for his adapted screenplay. Julia Roberts has not made a movie in 3 years (unless you count loaning her voice to the spider in Charlotte's Web) and her role in this film is not all that huge. Hanks and Hoffman really own the flick and their interaction is classic. The scene where they meet for the first time in Hanks' office is hysterical and brilliantly written.
The best part about this movie is that it will teach you a little bit about a fairly important historical event. What's more, the lessons from what we did in Afghanistan AFTER THE WAR ENDED can be applied to the situation we are in over in Iraq right now. Sorkin is clearly aware of this but the film does not hammer you over the head with politics or any kind of liberal/conservative agenda. It is just a good time and some stellar writing/acting. The nice thing is that the history and politics of the film are presented in such an engaging fashion that just about anyone can enjoy this movie. It has some nudity and sex/drug themes so I would not take a 12-year-old to see it, but just about anyone over that age should find it enjoyable.
I realize I did not say anything negative about it. I suppose some folks may find it a bit offputting to treat what could be a serious subject with humor and fun. The war/action scenes are pretty weak often mixing real historical footage with very poorly re-created CGI effects. The first time where the Afghans shoot down a Russian helicopter features some laughably bad acting by the bumbling Afghan freedom fighters. The movie is rather simplistic at times and the characters lack nuance and depth. It might have been nice to know what brought Charlie Wilson to his womanizing, drug-using ways or other darker sides of some of the characters.
I think the bottom line is that this movie is not trying to be serious or write the definitive history of Charlie Wilson and the Afghan war. Sometimes it is nice to just sit back and have a good time in a film. That is what you get here.
--Jason "Hoffman is really fabulous here-- he steals every scene he is in" Evans