Charlie Wilson's War
Texas congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) sets a series of earth-shaking events in motion when he conspires with a rogue CIA operative (Philip Seymour Hoffman, in an Oscar-nominated role) to aid Afghan mujahedeen rebels in their fight against the Soviet Red Army. Julia Roberts, Emily Blunt and Amy Adams co-star in this fact-based political thriller directed by Mike Nichols and based on George Crile's 2003 book by the same name.
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» Reviewed by 13 people
I don't see were all the buzz for this film is coming from. The acting was excellent as with most Tom Hanks movies, but the story was uninteresting.. I could see this more as a documentary then a drama. Some real life stories just don't need to be told in this format and this is one of them. The lack of suspense, drama, and emotion in the film just killed it for me.- Partypeanut
Tom Hanks does his usual outstanding job--this time in the role of a Congressman who likes to drink and surround himself with pretty women. While the trailer portrays a comedy, the guts of the movie is about politics and war. The war is in Afghanistan and Congressman Charlie Wilson increased covert funding in support of the Afghans fighting the Soviets in the 1980's. Wilson is bright, charming and funny. He gets serious after visiting a refuge camp in Afghanistan. The story is based on true events and provides a humorous, cynical view of politics and Congress. It also shows how hundreds of millions of dollars can be spent "under the radar." Phillip Seymour Hoffman plays a rogue CIA agent. He is dynamic, caustic, humorous and steals scenes (and perhaps will walk away with an Oscar) with his dynamic character and ability to deliver a punch line. Humor is not the point; it is ultimately about how we fought a covert war and neglected Afghanistan after it was over. The movie is well worth watching unless you are offended by profanity, naked women in a hot tub and drug use. For those readers wondering if this movie has the anti-American perspective pervading recent Hollywood war movies, it doesn't. The original script reportedly contended the Afghan operation was the cause of September 11 attacks on America. This was altered after protests from Mr. Wilson. Lacking the propaganda of other recent American war movies, such as "Lions for Lambs" and "Redacted," "Charlie Wilson's War" is more entertaining and worth seeing.
- AtTheBeach
Aaron Sorkin is like Coke (the soda not the drug): sure it's the same as last time but it's always great because nothing else compares. The dialogue is funny, urbane, earnest, witty, and just all-around outstanding. The acting reflects that with Hanks using his comedian skills to show the mirth and humour that other actor's wouldn't have been able to pull off. Hoffman is great and really looks like the real Avrakotos. Roberts & Adams round out a great cast. Surprisingly short, the film tells a lot of story and stays fairly truthful to the history, although it obviously doesn't show the Russians in the best of light. The cinematography is very bright while keeping to the pastel color palettes of the 70s and 80s, making scenes look refreshing and not documentary-ish. Add the beautiful women that Wilson attracts to the great acting, direction, and dialogue and this is a fantastic movie.
- Dan the Karateka
Interesting subject matter and educational as well. Solid performances with Seymour Hoffman being the breakout star. Tom Hanks is the perfect womanizer, boozing Congressman. But since I'm not a Julie Roberts fan, I found her annoying. This story has some victories, but in the end, Congress moved on in the late 1980's, leaving a very important issue dangling and one which has come back to bite us 20 years later. This is a good film that held my interest during the first 2/3 and then kind of lost its edge. The relationship between Hanks' and Roberts' characters was interesting for only a minute or two.
- Southern Belle 1
This was a good film, nothing spectacular, but enjoyable. The performances were excellent, especially Hoffman. Overall, nothing special but worth checking out.
- Brody
Good acting by all, especially Hoffman. Great story, interesting throughout the whole thing (it could have been a little longer). My only complaint is one scene of cheesy video game style CGI that came out of nowhere. Like... huh? What the hell is up with that? And most of the other "battle" scenes were 20 year old stock footage. Overall it's a very good movie, that could have been great, if they only would have spent a few more million$ on some better CGI or if they had actually shot down some real helicopters or maybe even remote control replicas. Is that asking too much? I guess you can't have everything, at least not this time. After all it is a drama.... comedy?.... Whatever....
- couchdog53
An entertaining history lesson about America's invovlement in the Afgan war with the Russians. Tom Hanks does a great job playing Congressman Wilson - a real life, fun loving and admired character. It also provides a look at our current war from a new angle.
- GS Chicago
The film is stark, it looks somewhat bland, and the use of stock footage is disconcerting. But overall the film comes together and thrives, largely due to great performances, most notably from Phillip Seymore Hoffman, and a phenomenal script from Aaron Sorkin. Mike Nichols and Sorkin handle the politics of the film with grace as well. They try not to over-politicize the film, which has obvious repercussions on the current America war and other Middle Eastern conflicts. They never demonize Charlie Wilson, even illuminating some of his intentions that werent as dubious as they would seem, with ever over-glorifying his accomplishments. The film oscillates between political satire, comedy, and drama fluidly. It never achieves the greatness it nearly seems poised to, but it works and its an interesting film, illuminating a pivotal event of American history that never quite made it to the textbooks.
- Dlukenelson
This is based on the true story of Congressman Charlie Wilson. He along with the help of his friends were able to get the Russians out of Afghanistan and eventually lead to the downfall of the big Soviet power. Tom Hanks plays Wilson and Julia Roberts plays the money generator and Phillip Seymour Hoffman plays the rogue CIA agent. This motley crew became an unstoppable force. A good movie with great characters. Hoffman as Gust, the CIA agent, was hysterical. He deserved his Oscar nomination. For any fan of these stars and of U.S. history. You'll learn something. "It's just been my experience that when people with money and too much free time get involved in politics, pretty soon, I forget who it is I'm supposed to be shooting at."
- Cleve1212
Imagine if the film Three Kings had ended when the soldiers found the gold, that's kind of how Charlie Wilson's War is. The film begins as a dark comedy with a sharp wit and for better or worse, stays there until the end. This could have been so much bigger and more indicting but instead of being ambitious the film just breezily wanders by. It's hard to criticize a movie for what it didn't do but this feels like an enormous missed opportunity. For almost the entire duration the film is immensely entertaining, often times hilarious, and the acting by Hanks and Hoffman is superb, especially Hanks who's kind of taken for granted and overshadowed by Hoffman's chameleon like performance as an overweight chain smoking CIA agent. Hanks's Charlie is a liberal coke snorting, woman chasing, oily congressman. He's sleazy but his charm outweighs his more deplorable traits and you can see how the man was continually reelected and time and time again befriended people of differing political beliefs. He's just hard not to like and so the casting of Hanks was a perfect choice. The true-life story is amazing. Charlie helped to arm the Afghan people to defend themselves against the ruthless Soviet army and in doing so kick started the fall of the cold war even though Reagan took all the glory. And the film succeeds at giving us the origin of the story, but then out of nowhere we fast-forward 8 or 9 years where things are quickly ended. The film is more like a really good long sitcom than a cinematic achievement. Nichols's direction is pretty matter of fact, he tells the story in his quiet style making you forget the passion of his early films, although there is one perspective shot in the movie where Charlie looks through a doorway and there's a sense of the magic that took place in some of the iconic moments of The Graduate providing you a memory of how his movies used to be.
- Paul Logan
As good as Hanks and Roberts are, it's Hoffman that steals the show... he's one of the best actors in Hollywood right now, and in this role, he never let's us forget that fact.
- Frank W
I've steered clear of many Tom Hanks movies in recent years, after CAST AWAY. Then along comes a movie like CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR to prove that I was wrong. Hanks is a good actor, as he proves again, and Philip Seymour Hoffman is nothing short of phenomenal. Even Julia Roberts is good in this one. The entire movie centers around our covert war in Afghanistan and what Charlie Wilson and the CIA did to finance and execute it. The script, by Aaron Sorkin, is brilliant, though you expect no less from Sorkin at this point. I will recommend this one to any of my other friends who may have backslid from the modern superstar who is Tom Hanks.
- Firewater
Amazing re-enactment of covert activity within the government with a great cast and script. Loved the interaction of all the characters and found myself laughing out loud at several points and nearly brought to tears at other times. Hanks and Hoffman together on-screen is magic, sure hope they work together more. It's barely over 90 minutes so I implore you to see this movie with my highest recommendation! 7/08
- Skorpean