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Charlie Wilson's War
2007
A drama based on a Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects. Read more
| Starring | Amy Adams, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Rachel Nichols |
|---|---|
| Director | Mike Nichols |
| Genres | Drama |
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Charlie Wilson's War
A drama based on a Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects.
| Starring | Amy Adams, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Rachel Nichols, Emily Blunt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Shiri Appleby, Ned Beatty, Erick Avari |
|---|---|
| Director | Mike Nichols |
| Studio | UNIVERSAL |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 38 mins HD DVD: 1 hr 38 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | New releases |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English HD DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 05 May 2008 HD DVD: not available Production year: 2007 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews
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Its a credit to the swagger, charm and easy arrogance of Tom Hanks performance as the maverick member of the US... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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102 out of 108 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
A disaster.
It is quite difficult to say what this film hopes to achieve. Is it to entertain? To inform? To criticise American policy, or endorse it? It is not hard to maintain, however, that whatever the aims were in the thoughts of director Mike Nichols, Charlie Wilson's War is a resounding failure.
The film - like Nichols' previous feature, Closer - lacks any meaningful character development. Before the release of the film, Tom Hanks told his prospective audience not to see his character as a morally upright man. No, he said, Wilson is supposed to an ignorant womaniser and drug abuser: a man (as he is told by the President of Pakistan) with 'substantial character flaws'. One wonders how an audience can possibly hope to reach such a conclusion when they are handed the trademark Hanks 'awkward nice guy' taken straight from his roles in Forrest Gump or Castaway. When we are ever shown what is supposedly WIlson's dark side, his dalliances are merely there for light relief.
Yet calling it ‘relief’ is too generous, however. Phillip Seymour Hoffman - proven to be an outstanding actor in recent years - is grossly misused, playing the role of the amusingly angry short guy. There is no purpose for him other than as a (poor) comedic foil to the whimpering Hanks, and one feels that with a character who is as explosively introduced as Gust Avrokotos, Hoffman could have gone to town had the script allowed for it. Instead, we are shown a stale 'romance' between Hanks and Roberts that is about as exciting as a night in watching Countdown, despite Roberts’ competence in a demanding role that requires her to smile occasionally and even deliver the odd line or two.
The whole feel of the film is wrong. Nichols clearly attempts to make some sort of commentary on the failure of American foreign policy to aid the post-war reconstruction of foreign films, yet seems petrified to do so. Instead we have a feature that entirely tows the middle ground: it appeals to conservatives who get to see the Commies get their comeuppance, while liberals can snicker at the meekly implied arrogance of the American involvement. One feels that if the film wants to make a point about something, it should go ahead and make it, rather than leaving us to infer the entire meaning of the film from Hanks’ blank expression in the closing sequence and a quote from Wilson himself (which, funnily enough, says more in 3 lines than the enitre screenplay does in 97 minutes).
No heart, a meagre script, poor performances from the leads, and a lack of engagement with any of the real issues at hand. An embarrassment: thank God for Phillip Seymour Hoffman. -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Awful
I really could not get into this film.
It started with an annoying long advert which could not be skipped (did I miss my video casette player!). There is just no excuse when you purchase or rent a product at full price for it to have adverts. For this reason alone I cannot recommend this film.
If the makers of the film want to highlight a particular cause, then donate their many millions of dollars to that cause, but do not force me to watch their propoganda.
The film was about 90 minutes, and in my opinion it just never got started. I kept hoping that in the next scene things would get better, but they didn't.
If you are expecting lots of fighting and guns and bombs in Afghanistan, then this film is not for you.
In fact if you are expecting anything other than good acting, then I cannot recommend this film.
Rent this film and see how bad it really is.
Can I be honest and say that on many occasions I watched sections at 2x speed (with subtitles). I found it dull and boring, and I usually love Tom Hanks films. -
News and features
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Charlie Wilson's War premieres in UK
- 10 Jan 2008
The premiere for a new movie starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts took place last night in London's Leicester Square. Although Roberts did not attend the event, Hanks took to the red carpet and was his usual charming self. The Forrest Gump and Apollo 13 star's latest role is as the eponymous politician who successfully assists with what was known as the largest covert operation ever. However, his appearance at the premiere saw him donning an Aston Villa scarf, the Press Association reports.... Read more
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Charlie Wilson's War - HD DVD Version
The first time the audience sees Texas congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) in the early 1980s, he seems far from a model politician. Surrounded by strippers, a Playboy Playmate, and cocaine, the naked congressman lies in a hot tub at a party. Despite the distractions, the TV news catches Charlie'...
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- Charlie Wilson's War
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A drama based on a Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects.... -