Morgan Bell
Kynaston
REVIEW: Charlie Wilson's War
November 9th 2008 17:29
Directed: Mike Nichols (Closer, Angels In America, Primary Colours, The Birdcage, Regarding Henry, Postcards From The Edge, The Graduate)
Written: Aaron Sorkin (The American President, A Few Good Men, TVs The West Wing) based on the book by George Crile
Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
Charlie Wilson's War is a political drama about the real life events the happened in the 1980s where the USA covertly funded arms for Afghanistan in order to defeat the Soviets both on the ground and in the Cold War. In some respects this film reminded me of Lions For Lambs, in that the message is very muddled. This is perhaps an accurate representation of what the average American feels about their own national image when it comes to the results CIA meddling in the Middle East . . . uneasy and muddled.
Charlie Wilson (Hanks) is a Texas congressman who is persuaded by a rich conservative socialite, Joanne Herring (Roberts) to make the plight of the Afghani people his pet project. The CIA sends him Gust Avrakotos (Hoffman) and together they negotiate secretly with key players in Pakistan and Israel and rally support domestically for extra funding. This is a film that leaves a bad taste in your mouth. No matter how lovable Hanks is or how funny Hoffman is, you know it is based on a true story, and you know that these underhand dealings eventually led to Taliban filling a power vacuum that the US helped create.
This film has been written as a quirky comedy about a "victory". The sub-heading of the book it was based on was "The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History". But its not a feel-good tale. It is really the story of how the USA avoided turning a Cold War into a real war by not drawing attention to themselves - they did it at the expense of the Afghani people. This is the story of how the USA used the Afghani people as pawns in their pissing match with the USSR and then abondoned them at a time where they needed to rebuild after all the death and destruction.
Charlie Wilson: "These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the endgame."
TRAILER FOR CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR:
Written: Aaron Sorkin (The American President, A Few Good Men, TVs The West Wing) based on the book by George Crile
Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
Charlie Wilson's War is a political drama about the real life events the happened in the 1980s where the USA covertly funded arms for Afghanistan in order to defeat the Soviets both on the ground and in the Cold War. In some respects this film reminded me of Lions For Lambs, in that the message is very muddled. This is perhaps an accurate representation of what the average American feels about their own national image when it comes to the results CIA meddling in the Middle East . . . uneasy and muddled.
Charlie Wilson (Hanks) is a Texas congressman who is persuaded by a rich conservative socialite, Joanne Herring (Roberts) to make the plight of the Afghani people his pet project. The CIA sends him Gust Avrakotos (Hoffman) and together they negotiate secretly with key players in Pakistan and Israel and rally support domestically for extra funding. This is a film that leaves a bad taste in your mouth. No matter how lovable Hanks is or how funny Hoffman is, you know it is based on a true story, and you know that these underhand dealings eventually led to Taliban filling a power vacuum that the US helped create.
This film has been written as a quirky comedy about a "victory". The sub-heading of the book it was based on was "The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History". But its not a feel-good tale. It is really the story of how the USA avoided turning a Cold War into a real war by not drawing attention to themselves - they did it at the expense of the Afghani people. This is the story of how the USA used the Afghani people as pawns in their pissing match with the USSR and then abondoned them at a time where they needed to rebuild after all the death and destruction.
Charlie Wilson: "These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the endgame."
TRAILER FOR CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR:
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Comment by NoaIzumi
Fine Politics
Anime Bottle
This was of my favorite movies of last year. The story could have been more complete, but the casting was brilliant. Some of the dialogue still cracks me up.
"He wants me to be on the Senate Ethics Committee? Doesn't he know I'm on the other side of that issue?"
"Do you drink?"
"Oh God, yes."
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
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Comment by NoaIzumi
Fine Politics
Anime Bottle
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
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oh i agree they did use the final scenes to explain how congress lost interest - the quote i included at the end was a quote from the movie
i just felt that it was sign of Americans who cant reconcile their role in the Middle East as a feel-good story while trying to tell the truth at the same time
this film was trying to do both and it just made it feel muddled, its almost like trying to make an irreverant comedy about General Custar and then at the end have him solemnly state that he regrets some of the things that happened
thanks for the comment
Comment by Morgan Bell
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you would probably really enjoy Phillip Seymour Hoffman in this - he gets all the killer lines, his character is very abrasive
i think the same story produced outside of the USA would have had a completely different feel to it
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Morgan Bell
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thanks for the link, ill go check it out . . .
i think i expected more from the Mike Nichols/Aaron Sorkin pairing, something a bit more critical and scathing . . . it was just a bit too disney in parts . . . i enjoyed Phillip Seymour Hoffman though, he was a blast!