Charlie Wilson's War (DVD, 2008, Widescreen)

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.

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Charlie Wilson's War is packed full of stars like Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and the ever funny Philip Seymour Hoffman.

The movie is based on a real life story of Charlie Wilson a congressman from Texas. He seems to be of little importance, yet he sits on three of the most powerful funding chairs in congress.

After having his eyes open to the horror's of the USSR's occupation of Afghanistan Charlie starts a series of events that causes the defeat of the Red Army and eventually the fall of the Soviet Union.

Along the way Wilson bumps into Joanne Herring (Roberts) who prods him in the correct direction and Gust the ever cynical CIA agent who helps Wilson run his war.

The really interesting thing is how Wilson basically predicts the troubles with Afghanistan that we currently have today at the end of the movie. This is because the USA was willing to spend 500 million to wage a covert war, but not a million on schools or other infastructor.

A really interesting movie that makes you think.

5/5

Latsyrhc
Tamarack Collectibles

...became more than a War supported by one man.

I remember seeing a feature on this fact on the CBS TV Show '60 Minutes'.

This Film and the xtras on the DVD brought home to me what the war was all about in Afghanistan... and why unfortunately we are there once again.

The film is informative in an entertaining way, and the characters that Tom Hanks and Julia Roberst play are shown in real life in the DVD xtras.

This is a must rent DVD for sure, unless you are a Hanks or Roberts fan, and then it would be fine for your DVD collection to watch again.

Michael

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.

The plot was fairly good; the acting was fairly good - no need in all the extreme language that was inappropriate for children. Movie could be a good learning tool about an historical event; however, the immoral actions and distasteful language made it inappropriate for families and children.

This is a true story. It is quit enlightening about how our government works. Very entertaining! One of Tom Hanks best.

Great movie! I saw it on TV and enjoyed it so much I bought it. I also ordered The True History of Charlie Wilson's War from the history channel annd found the movie was very accurate with the actual accounts told by Congressman Wilson and the other actual persons portrayed in the movie.

Originally, I saw the documentary on TV about a Texas Congressman who supported the largest Cia covert operation by supplying the Afghan Mujahideen weapons to help defeat the Soviet during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. I was fascinated with the effort and determination of Charlie Wilson lobbying for an increased budget for the Afghan war operations especially in the allocation for anti-aircraft weapons to shoot down Soviet Helicopters that were mostly causing damage and casualties. Eventually, Wilson was successful and he was able to deliver the necessary weapons that helped the Afghan mujahideen drove the Soviets out of Afghanistan and claimed victory. I missed to see the movie in theaters but I have seen the real story and I know it's an excellent movie and excellent actors that's why I did not hesitate to buy it for my collection.

The story was well told, good details available about the history of the characters in the additional segments available on the DVD. Story seemed to have a very weak ending, appropriate, but weak.

If it wasn't based on real life you wouldn't believe it. Tom Hanks plays the philandering TX congressman, Julia Roberts plays the connected, conservative religious political power player. Very real to life there, killing and debauchery are quite alright as long as we proclaim our religion.
Overall a very entertaining movie, Tom is able to portray genuine concern for the Afghan country during the Soviet invasion, he is believable as dedicated to the cause. Philip Seymour Hoffman is the intelligence man that makes things happen through his connections. His is a great part, very sharp, witty, fearless.

Please do not read the book if you wish to see this picture.
Book vastly superior to the movie.
Weaknesses in this movie are Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks.
Terribly miscast.
Would have been better with better casting.

Great Movie..Story line a bit disturbing since it was true but politics are always disturbing. Good acting with great cast...if you love Tom Hanks you will love this movie...Julia doesn't have that big a part but she's great in it also.

Movie was borng!!!i rented it only because Tom Hanks was in it,not much in story line,,long and drawed out,wont tell anyone to rent or buy, its right down with Tom's movie joe vs the volcano !!!!

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.

Phillip Seymore Hoffman steals the show. A phenomenal movie all around. Gives a teasing peak at the smokey, back-room world of international espionage and politics. One not to miss for P.S.H. or Tom Hanks fans.

I watched this the first time at my sister's house, stuff was going on at the house, kids coming and going, so I couldn't really get into it. But she kept claiming what a good film it was, so low and behold she sent the dvd to me in the mail, and I gave it my full attention.

It's important to pay attention to the dialog. It is a really good film, but the subject matter is so 'war movie' its easy to tune it out, as one would when flipping thru tv channels.

What is truly amazing is that it is based on the real story, that 98 % of us out there had no idea it was going on. In 1980 I was in high school and completely oblivious to this real 'secret' war that the US was fighting in Afghanistan.

So the story was very well done. But on the dvd, you get to meet the real Charlie Wilson, and wow, what a man. He's in his later years and he has this amazing charisma. Which makes a lot of the films bits make sense.

The real Wilson has the charisma of Bill Clinton or John Wayne, very manly and attractive. I don't really think of Tom Hanks in those terms.


Charlie Wilson was able to pull off one of the most secretive covert wars in history because he was considered a fop in Washington, and no one was watching him.

I'm sure a lot of the mediocre reviews are because of the subject matter. The acting is finest anywhere, but the story is so historically important, and thus you have to give it your fullest attention to get it.

And you have to ask can you wrap a 10 year event up into a 2 hour movie.

You might consider watching the documentary that comes with the dvd on the real Charlie Wilson first... you'll get a feeling for the kind of man he is and was during that time, and then the film makes a lot more sense. I'm sure a lot of people like me, were clueless that such a war with the Soviet Union was even going on.

This is a really good film.

Blessings, Max Rainet.

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Charlie Wilson is a longtime friend going back to my college days, when I worked in his campaigns. Charle was and is a larger than life person, one that comes along very seldom. He loves America and his public service career reflects that! Family enjoyed the book by George Crile and the DVD, both purchased on EBAY.
Joe White

Excellent treatment of a true story with an all star cast. If you don't mind the salty language, you will be enthralled by this story of a Congressman from a small Texas town and his war against Russia in Afganastan. I give it 5 Stars.

I liked the fact that this is a true story, so you feel you are gaining some knowledge wail being well entertained by Terrific Actors such as Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. This movie is very will done and you really get into it, sorta speak!! It makes you feel like if you could, you would go into the past and change a few facts of said true story for a better ending!!! I bought this movie mostly because of said actors because they are among my favorits.

I cannot rate. I have not received the DVD. This was paid for 3/5/09. Will be more than happy to raate when I receive the DVD. I don't know what the delay is, this was paid thru PayPal.Ellie Burlingame

This is an EXCELLENT movie!! Highly recommend watching this one. This shows that there are some people that care about others and not just themselves.

this movie is great. im actually from the town that charlie wilson represented (Lufkin, TX) and loved how they mentioned it in the movie. what he did happened when i was very young but i have heard many stories about him and think that this movie portyrayed his story pretty good.

it was goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood.

I did not see the movie when it was in the theaters and I really enjoy Tom Hanks films. When I saw it on your list I grabbed it up.