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Amazon.co.uk Review
Overlooked in the end at the Academy Awards, and not ratcheting up the box office you'd perhaps expect of a Tom Hanks movie, Charlie Wilson's War is nonetheless a challenging, entertaining and underappreciated film, that deserves to find a bigger audience on DVD.
Starring Hanks in the title role, the strength of Charlie Wilson's War is in some talented people doing what they do best. Hanks eases into his part, as the Texas congressman who uses his extensive contacts book and unorthodox nature (which is putting it mildly) to initiate and wage a secret war. Alongside him is Julia Roberts on fine form in a small part, and the excellent Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who is at the heart of the film's best, and funniest, moments.
Gluing Charlie Wilson's War together is an assured turn behind the camera from veteran director Mike Nichols. Nichols, still best known for The Graduate, is confident enough to let the comedy in a deathly serious story play out, while not shirking the drama either. It's a tender balancing act, that only flusters a little near the end.
It's not a perfect film, and the tone may be a little uneasy for some. But Charlie Wilson's War is, nonetheless, a very strong piece of American cinema, that has questions to ask, and manages to entertain at the same time. Well worth discovering. --Jon Foster
Synopsis
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's attention as Dan Rather reports from a war-torn Afghanistan. As Soviets invade the country, the Afghans lack the money and technology to defend themselves. Enter Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), a wealthy Texan who champions the cause of Afghanistan and, by extension in the Cold War, America. Together with CIA Agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Charlie begins a secret war where he must unite Israel, Pakistan, Egypt, and America to defeat the Soviets.
Just as director Mike Nichols brought a sense of fun to what should have been dour proceedings in films such as The Graduate and Closer, this comedy about the largest covert war to date never feels like a history lesson. Writer Aaron Sorkin's dialogue is sharp and it's delivered with impressive verve from the film's trio of Oscar winners. Hoffman is famous for transforming into various characters, and he's remarkable, but it's Hanks's turn that's the most surprising. Outwardly, Charlie could resemble many of Hanks's previous roles, but the actor adds layers to the character and changes without the aid of makeup or prosthetics.
Just as director Mike Nichols brought a sense of fun to what should have been dour proceedings in films such as The Graduate and Closer, this comedy about the largest covert war to date never feels like a history lesson. Writer Aaron Sorkin's dialogue is sharp and it's delivered with impressive verve from the film's trio of Oscar winners. Hoffman is famous for transforming into various characters, and he's remarkable, but it's Hanks's turn that's the most surprising. Outwardly, Charlie could resemble many of Hanks's previous roles, but the actor adds layers to the character and changes without the aid of makeup or prosthetics.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
First impressions first, eh?
The DVD opens with a preachy, didactic, UNSKIPPABLE four-minute-long clip, narrated in twee poetry by Cate Blanchett (I think), telling us in essence that "HIV is bad". No, you think?
It's so long that the first time I played the disc I thought it was the opening of the film, and I recall being surprised as it seemed out of tone with what I assumed would be the rest of the film. It soon became clear that it wasn't - and when I played the disc again to watch the end of the film, it turned out that this blasted promo can't be skipped! I've seen it, it's not told me anything I didn't already know, I keep myself informed of what's going on in the world - so why do I need to have this preachy drivel forced on me? Very poor choice - well-intentioned, but poor - on the part of the disc editors.
On to the film, then.
No, it's not laugh-out-loud funny. It's not action-packed. It's not the broad comedy that it seems many were expecting.
But it is a light, amusing, often contemplative West Wing-style political drama - hardly surprising, given its pedigree. It highlights a war and situation that perhaps most people didn't know a great deal about, and does so in an engaging way. Take it for what it is, not what the blurb makes you expect, and you might enjoy it.
The DVD opens with a preachy, didactic, UNSKIPPABLE four-minute-long clip, narrated in twee poetry by Cate Blanchett (I think), telling us in essence that "HIV is bad". No, you think?
It's so long that the first time I played the disc I thought it was the opening of the film, and I recall being surprised as it seemed out of tone with what I assumed would be the rest of the film. It soon became clear that it wasn't - and when I played the disc again to watch the end of the film, it turned out that this blasted promo can't be skipped! I've seen it, it's not told me anything I didn't already know, I keep myself informed of what's going on in the world - so why do I need to have this preachy drivel forced on me? Very poor choice - well-intentioned, but poor - on the part of the disc editors.
On to the film, then.
No, it's not laugh-out-loud funny. It's not action-packed. It's not the broad comedy that it seems many were expecting.
But it is a light, amusing, often contemplative West Wing-style political drama - hardly surprising, given its pedigree. It highlights a war and situation that perhaps most people didn't know a great deal about, and does so in an engaging way. Take it for what it is, not what the blurb makes you expect, and you might enjoy it.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Virtually Maria (Virtual Trilogy)
As a great fan of Aaron Sorkin, the man who wrote West Wing, I was delighted to hear that he had penned the script for this Tom Hanks / Julia Robers vehicle that tells the story of how one slightly seedy US politician managed to engineer the defeat of the entire Russian army in Afghanisan.
The script (as you would expect from Aaron Sorkin) is intelligent and fast paced. Tom Hanks is excellent as the playboy politician who suddenly realises he can actually make an impact on the world, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman's cynical CIA superspy is a joy to behold (watch out for the glass panel scene at CIA Langley!!).
What is also notable about this movie is that it contains the serious and sobering message that, having spent billions to get the Russians out of Afghanistan, no money was allocated to rebuild the country afterwards - leaving the people at the mercy of religious fundamentalists and triggering the mess that the world is in now.
A movie to enjoy and to learn from at the same time.
As a great fan of Aaron Sorkin, the man who wrote West Wing, I was delighted to hear that he had penned the script for this Tom Hanks / Julia Robers vehicle that tells the story of how one slightly seedy US politician managed to engineer the defeat of the entire Russian army in Afghanisan.
The script (as you would expect from Aaron Sorkin) is intelligent and fast paced. Tom Hanks is excellent as the playboy politician who suddenly realises he can actually make an impact on the world, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman's cynical CIA superspy is a joy to behold (watch out for the glass panel scene at CIA Langley!!).
What is also notable about this movie is that it contains the serious and sobering message that, having spent billions to get the Russians out of Afghanistan, no money was allocated to rebuild the country afterwards - leaving the people at the mercy of religious fundamentalists and triggering the mess that the world is in now.
A movie to enjoy and to learn from at the same time.
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I saw this film advertised, immediately thought 'Tom Hanks? Nah ...', and let it slip through the cinema releases without seeing it. It was certainly an error of judgement because Charlie Wilson's War is a great movie.
The plot is based on the true story of Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), a coke-snorting, hard drinkin', womanising Texas senator who teams up with CIA operative Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and sixth-wealthiest- woman-in-Texas Joanne Herring (played beautifully by Julia Roberts). They subsequently engineer the largest covert operation in US history, supplying freedom fighters with the weaponry they need to fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
'Charlie Wilson's War' is a mix of charismatic charactors, cynical humour and drama, with some fine acting by Hanks and Hoffman and a wider chemistry evident across the entire cast; CWW is the type of film you watch and just know the actors are relishing their roles and having a great time. It's funny and cerebral, while also showing us the murky side of how the world really works behind the scenes. It's an entertaining and accomplished piece of film making, but not without its problems.
Director Mike Nichols seems comfortable sitting in his 'Catch-22' war-comedy roots, and never really tackles head on the issues the film raises. In particular, the ending (where we, the audience, can retrospectively look back at the historical events and know the direction it goes) seems tacked on, as if to temper the somewhat jingoistic slant the film has for much of its length.
The film also falls into the Sorkin-esque trap where, although the dialogue is great, it's sputtered out at a Kalashnikov rate ... the old US tact of conveying the intelligence of characters by making them speak incredibly quickly. In parts, as with the West Wing, you'll have to rewind to catch what they said and when you do you'll find a reference to US politics that most non-US citizens won't quite understand.
Generally though, an excellent film that is bound to surprise you if you haven't seen it. Not one for the kids or the instant gratification brigade ... but a few movies like this are always a good thing to break up the summer blockblusters.
The plot is based on the true story of Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), a coke-snorting, hard drinkin', womanising Texas senator who teams up with CIA operative Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and sixth-wealthiest- woman-in-Texas Joanne Herring (played beautifully by Julia Roberts). They subsequently engineer the largest covert operation in US history, supplying freedom fighters with the weaponry they need to fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
'Charlie Wilson's War' is a mix of charismatic charactors, cynical humour and drama, with some fine acting by Hanks and Hoffman and a wider chemistry evident across the entire cast; CWW is the type of film you watch and just know the actors are relishing their roles and having a great time. It's funny and cerebral, while also showing us the murky side of how the world really works behind the scenes. It's an entertaining and accomplished piece of film making, but not without its problems.
Director Mike Nichols seems comfortable sitting in his 'Catch-22' war-comedy roots, and never really tackles head on the issues the film raises. In particular, the ending (where we, the audience, can retrospectively look back at the historical events and know the direction it goes) seems tacked on, as if to temper the somewhat jingoistic slant the film has for much of its length.
The film also falls into the Sorkin-esque trap where, although the dialogue is great, it's sputtered out at a Kalashnikov rate ... the old US tact of conveying the intelligence of characters by making them speak incredibly quickly. In parts, as with the West Wing, you'll have to rewind to catch what they said and when you do you'll find a reference to US politics that most non-US citizens won't quite understand.
Generally though, an excellent film that is bound to surprise you if you haven't seen it. Not one for the kids or the instant gratification brigade ... but a few movies like this are always a good thing to break up the summer blockblusters.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Up yours,Gwyneth!
Wanted to watch a film, was unable to by the company producing this DVD. Universal, you 'lick the sweat off a dead mans balls'.
Published 1 month ago by Chippy Minter
The script and the acting in this film are superb
I recommend this Tom Hanks film. Based on a true story, this is a shrewd film that tells the story of one influential person to rid Afghanistan from Soviet occupation. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Profr R. Cohenalmagor
top film
excellent enjoyable film, a must see, Pillip Seymour Hoffman is at his excellent best and the supporting cast all put in fine performances. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. M. Jeffery
Unskippable.... seriously?
The movie is fantastic...nothing wrong there.
The problem is the 5 minute unskippable UNICEF / AIDS introduction. Read more
The problem is the 5 minute unskippable UNICEF / AIDS introduction. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Seanmc30
A great production. A great example of how each element of film making...
The truth is that when I was a teenager, I often knew very well indeed about what was going on in Afghanistan - the situation which is the subject of this film. Read more
Published 12 months ago by G. Connolly
Sooner or later God's gonna be on both sides
A film about the strange bedfellows (at times literally) who brought about the financing for the mujahideen in their fight against the Soviet Army. Read more
Published 12 months ago by AfghanistanPage
Adverts Adverts Adverts....................
I Paid for this, I didn't download it illegally, If i had i would not have had to watch the story about an African couple for an advert for UNICEF. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Alex Ryder
Overlooked and Under Rated
Charlie Wilson's War is a much overlooked film that I have only recently had the pleasure of viewing, It is ultimately a politicial drama based on real events with satire thrown in... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Ms. L. poole
Charlie Wilson's War
An hilarious presentation. I am surprised that it was given general release considering that it is based upon a true story? Read more
Published 21 months ago by AE Wheeler
Great but...
Fantastic film. Great characterisation and very good story telling but the enjoyment has been destroyed by the obligatory diatribe from Ms Paltrow (which you can not fast forward... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Richard H
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