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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.Read full review
Interesting true story of the behind the scenes actions of Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) in the mid 1980's. As he put it himself, he had the unique advantage of representing a constituency that really wanted nothing except their right to own their guns and be left alone. This part of Texas boasted some of the richest people in America. This enabled Charlie to be able to do a lot of favors for other Congressmen without having to ask for favors in return. He was owed favors by many. Charlie was a wealthy bachelor, a hard drinking hard partying playboy, who was smart enough to not make enemies, just friends. One of Charlie's best friends was Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) who aside from being an ultra-wealthy, and socially connected, she was a champion of the plight of the Afghan people. The Soviet Union was invading Afghanistan and conducting ethnic cleansing. Joanne gets Charlie Wilson to go to Pakistan and meet with her very good friend, then President Zia, about how the U.S. can help the Afghan people. After his visit, President Zia convinced Charley to go to Afghanistan to see for himself exactly what was happening. He went and was horrified at what he saw. He met with Ambassador Holt in Afghanistan and was totally convinced that he could care less about the Afghan people. When Wilson returned to the U.S. he gets involved with a gritty, no BS, CIA operative named Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman). He was THE hands-on, get it done, person! Charlie Wilson was the key man at the intersection of the Finance Committee, planning and funding for covert actions, and the CIA. The entire funding for Afghanistan was $5M. These people were fighting the Soviets with WWI rifles, and the Soviets were slaughtering them with laser guided machine guns, tanks, and aircraft. In a couple of years Charlie Wilson, and Gust Avrakotos waged a covert war against the Soviets through Afghan freedom fighters that led to the defeat of the Soviets, and the bankruptcy and eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. The problem was, we spent all of this money and aided these people to win their freedom, but were too stupid to help to rebuild their society and solidify a friendship. This was like as if the Allies in WWII had liberated the German POW camps, and just left! The people were starving, sick, helpless, and in many cases couldn't even walk. How could they help themselves? We did that very thing in Afghanistan, and just walked away. . . Any wonder why we have a problem there now?Read full review
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. IF YOU LIKE MY REVIEWS PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO TELL ME BY VOTING. THANKS.Read full review
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.Read full review
We had wanted to see this one in the theaters, but just kept missing it. When we heard the release date for the DVD, we knew that eBay would be the best place to find it. It was. The movie was short, as true to story as possible, and kept your attention. Tom Hanks was spot on, Julia Roberts had an interesting role, and Philip Seymore Hoffman was a heck of a surprise and laugh as Gust. Would definately reccomend to others.
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