Charlie Wilson’s War (**)
Directed by: Mike Nichols (Closer, Primary Colors, The Birdcage)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Amy Adams, Julia Roberts, Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Seen: March 7th 2008
** Out of ****
This film is based on the unbelievable true story of the Democratic Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson, played by Tom Hanks. Wilson conspired with a CIA operative with a very hands-on attitude, Gust Avrakotos (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), to launch an operation that, bit-by-bit, raised more and more money for the Afghani war effort to resist Russia in the late 70’s.
Adapted from George Crile’s 2003 book Charlie Wilson’s War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History, this film was nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, even “Best Motion Picture”, but did not win in one. The same goes for its Academy Award Nomination for “Best Supporting Actor” for Hoffman.
Charlie Wilson lives a very expansive social life of women and partying, he even calls his one secretary (played by Shiri Appleby from Roswell) Jailbait; because of her age, I assume… There are even allegations of cocaine use raised against Wilson, causing a federal investigation by then prosecutor Rudy Giuliani into his activities. No charges are levelled against Wilson from this investigation.
Joanne Herring (Roberts), encourages Wilson to help the Afghans, of whom he is unaware (like all of us are) at the time. But after she persuades him to visit Pakistan his eyes and ears open up to their complaints for US support to oppose Russia. While visiting Pakistan, he goes to an Afghan refugee camp, and is deeply touched by their determination to fight, despite their miserable conditions. The local CIA low key approach against Russian occupation is the last straw, and he returns home to lead the effort of increasing funding to the mujahideen – something that turns out spectacularly successful, and which you’ll only believe if you see it for yourself.
Eventually, Afghanistan is empowered to a spectacular degree by an anti-communism budget for the CIA that grew from around $5 million to over $1 billion thanks to Charlie Wilson. This policy evolved into the Reagan Doctrine, credited by many as the one to ultimately bring the mighty Soviet Union and Communism to its knees, ending the Cold War.
Receiving great accolades for his efforts, he is also afraid of the possible consequences of empowering Afghanistan, something we see the US government didn’t fully consider, leaving Wilson with a fear of what is to come; and the filmgoer with a sense that everything going on in the world now came from this, the solution to another massive American problem…
Enjoyable and even interesting, but not very engaging, and ultimately forgettable.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Amy Adams, Julia Roberts, Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Seen: March 7th 2008
** Out of ****
This film is based on the unbelievable true story of the Democratic Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson, played by Tom Hanks. Wilson conspired with a CIA operative with a very hands-on attitude, Gust Avrakotos (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), to launch an operation that, bit-by-bit, raised more and more money for the Afghani war effort to resist Russia in the late 70’s.
Adapted from George Crile’s 2003 book Charlie Wilson’s War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History, this film was nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, even “Best Motion Picture”, but did not win in one. The same goes for its Academy Award Nomination for “Best Supporting Actor” for Hoffman.
Charlie Wilson lives a very expansive social life of women and partying, he even calls his one secretary (played by Shiri Appleby from Roswell) Jailbait; because of her age, I assume… There are even allegations of cocaine use raised against Wilson, causing a federal investigation by then prosecutor Rudy Giuliani into his activities. No charges are levelled against Wilson from this investigation.
Joanne Herring (Roberts), encourages Wilson to help the Afghans, of whom he is unaware (like all of us are) at the time. But after she persuades him to visit Pakistan his eyes and ears open up to their complaints for US support to oppose Russia. While visiting Pakistan, he goes to an Afghan refugee camp, and is deeply touched by their determination to fight, despite their miserable conditions. The local CIA low key approach against Russian occupation is the last straw, and he returns home to lead the effort of increasing funding to the mujahideen – something that turns out spectacularly successful, and which you’ll only believe if you see it for yourself.
Eventually, Afghanistan is empowered to a spectacular degree by an anti-communism budget for the CIA that grew from around $5 million to over $1 billion thanks to Charlie Wilson. This policy evolved into the Reagan Doctrine, credited by many as the one to ultimately bring the mighty Soviet Union and Communism to its knees, ending the Cold War.
Receiving great accolades for his efforts, he is also afraid of the possible consequences of empowering Afghanistan, something we see the US government didn’t fully consider, leaving Wilson with a fear of what is to come; and the filmgoer with a sense that everything going on in the world now came from this, the solution to another massive American problem…
Enjoyable and even interesting, but not very engaging, and ultimately forgettable.
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