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| Charlie Wilson's War | 
| Category: Movie
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  131 reviews
Sales Rank: 9818
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 103 minutes
ASIN: B001688V2E
Theatrical Release Date: December 21, 2007
Release Date: October 6, 2008
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| Customer Reviews:
 Extremely disappointing May 4, 2008
7 out of 16 found this review helpful
I can't understand how can anybody take this movie seriously. It is such a cliche, as well as shallow, pseudo-patriotic, chauvinistic and syrupy. Historical and technical facts are shamelessly distorted. I always liked and respected all the great actors that act here: Roberts, Hanks and Hoffman, it is disturbing to see them play here.
 Big Personalities, Humor, Capitol Hill Politics, and Cold War Bravado. May 2, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
"Charlie Wilson's War" is based on George Crile's 2003 book of the same name which tells the story of irreverent Texan Congressman Charlie Wilson's campaign to equip the mujaheddin rebels who were fighting the Soviet army in Afghanistan in the 1980s. After seeing television coverage of the ill-equipped, underfunded, but determined mujaheddin, Rep. Wilson (Tom Hanks) doubled the paltry $5 million US aid to the rebels. This caught the attention of Texas socialite and anti-communist crusader Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), who used her considerable clout to persuade Wilson to take up the cause. With the help of CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a frustrated 24-year-veteran of the Cold War, Wilson was able to supply anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons to the mujaheddin and increase US aid to as astonishing $500 million per year.
This might be a dry tale if the characters weren't so colorful. Charlie Wilson becomes concerned with the plight of the mujaheddin while soaking in a hot tub in Las Vegas with a couple of strippers and a Playboy model. He is under investigation for narcotics use by none other than Rudolph Giuliani while trying to organize aid to Afghan rebels. The man liked to sow his wild oats. Gust Avrakotos is an odd combination of idealist and cynic who introduced himself by bugging Wilson's Scotch bottle. Joanne Herring is an ultra-right-wing fashion plate, who uses her charm and wealth to get her way -even with the liberal Democratic Congressman. Together, these three people changed US policy in Afghanistan and armed the guerilla's who dealt the Soviet Army its first defeat, delivering an economic blow that facilitated the USSR's collapse.
Wilson, Avrakotos, and Herring are a lot of fun to watch, because they never attempt to conceal what they are. Like them or not, these are strong, direct personalities. Charlie Wilson is a genuine, fun-loving guy, not the least bit worried about his image, who makes this story as funny as it is remarkable. Joanne Herring is the first good role Julia Roberts has had since her younger, smiley romantic comedy days. I question the film's implication that the US did not have a coherent policy in Afghanistan before Charlie Wilson came along, however. The "bleed" policy was carefully conceived, and someone must have explained it to Wilson and Herring at some point, even if Wilson's approach turned out to be better. Director Mike Nichols delivers a very entertaining, mainstream film that is nonetheless provocative and revealing of the machinations on Capitol Hill.
The DVD (Universal 2008): "The Making of Charlie Wilson's War" (17 min) interviews director Mike Nichols, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, and the cast about the script and about the real Charlie Wilson, who is also interviewed, along with Joanne Herring. "Who Is Charlie Wilson?" (12 min) interviews Mike Nichols, Tom Hanks, and others about Charlie Wilson. Charlie Wilson talks about his position in Congress, how he became involved in getting arms to the mujaheddin, and his view of them. Some archive footage from the 1980s is included. Subtitles are available for the film in English SDH, Spanish, French. Dubbing is available in Spanish, French.
one of the best films of the year.. May 2, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I absolutely loved this film that somehow combines breezy wit with heart stopping reality. It's not an easy combination to pull off but with Mike Nichols(The Graduate) as director, Aaron Sorkin(West Wing) as writer and a cast of Oscar winners it all works. This is Tom Hanks at his best with a formidable Julia Roberts, and an incredible Phillip Symour Hoffman. If you want all the intricate details there are plenty of reviews to give that to you. This is a story of how the Russian invasion of Afghanistan changed the course of history with the ramifications still being felt today. The film never insults the audience's intelligence and never tries to tie everything up in a pretty ribbon with characters that are flawless. In a nonstop entertaining, intelligent way these non-heroic characters rise above the muck and actually make a difference. Intelligent, funny, witty and gripping. The kind of film that I thought Hollywood forgot how to make.
A wickedly funny, thought-provoking film April 30, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Charlie Wilson wasn't the best guy around. He did drugs, he slept with strippers and prostitutes, and he had a lot of shady deals going on under the table. But damn if he didn't get something right. He saw a need to arm the Afghanistan rebels against the Soviet Union, and in so doing, allowed for Afghanistan to become the first nation to successfully rebel against the Soviet Union.
I wasn't much familiar with the story until I watched the movie--one of those "greatest stories never told" things, I reckon. But I'm glad I watched the movie, and am going to go out and read the book, and read up on what happened. Tom Hanks is engaging, as he tends to be (in fact, he's often SO engaging that I'm not a fan; he's won me over with a few roles in the past, however, and this is one of them). Julia Roberts sizzles; again, I've never been a huge fan (I can think of a LOT of things I'd rather do than sit through "My Best Friend's Wedding" one more time) but she captivated me here.
The standout role here, however, is definitely that of Philip Seymour Hoffman. He's rapidly becoming one of my favorite actors in Hollywood. His comedic timing is near-perfect (Tom Hanks, to his credit, matches him step for step; even Roberts gets in a nice jab or two). I'm not sure why he didn't win Best Supporting Actor for this (well, yes I am: it's hard to beat Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh, but that's another movie and another review). Still...watch and learn, folks. This guy is a master-in-the-making.
The writing is crisp, the direction almost flawless. There are a few points at which the film lags, but overall, it's a crisp, wicked good time. There aren't much bonus features, though the two documentaries (a "making-of," as well as a piece on Charlie Wilson) are interesting. But you should buy the movie for the sake of watching the movie; bonus features are "bonus" anyways, remember? It's the movie that counts. And "Charlie Wilson's War" counts for quite a lot. Perhaps it's not a classic...but it's damn good just the same.
The main moral of this story, if we can call it that, is that good guys don't always wear white hats. A cliche, but shoot me. The most interesting--and, get this, REAL--protagonists are the ones who are flawed, who don't always follow the yellow brick road, but can still stand up for what they believe is just and fair. We can't all be saints...but sometimes, as Charlie Wilson (and his "War") shows us, we can at least act like we are.
 Most Cynical Movie of 2007 April 30, 2008
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
What a monumental waste of talent, time, and energy. Everyone collects their checks here for nothing more than boiler plate work. I'm being generous with 2 stars. Not one redeemable character in the bunch (supposedly based on a true story) makes one very sad at such a waste of film stock - has it really come to this? No wonder the Middle East hates the West so much - this film does nothing but reinforce the cynicism and lowest common denominator mentality (of which it purports to represent)! Yuck!
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