Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

Director: Mike Nichols

Time Out rating

Average user rating

16 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

It’s a credit to the swagger, charm and easy arrogance of Tom Hanks’ performance as the maverick member of the US House of Representatives from Texas’ Second District who raised a cool $1 billion for covert action against the Russkies in 1980s Afghanistan that you almost forget that the booze fuelled, libidinous politico’s antics not only ‘brought down the Soviet Empire’ but also built up the Mujahideen, helped spawn Osama bin Laden, and contributed to our desperate present geo-political crisis. True, in his adaptation of George Crile’s best-selling ‘true story’, Mike Nichols does allow Wilson a teary-eyed speech in a refugee camp on the need to invest in the post-bellum peace but it’s obvious that the director is more fully at home cheerleading the power-plays between the dapper congressman and Julia Roberts’ bouffanted, right-wing Houston millionairess or keeping pace with the rattling parley in the corridors of Capitol Hill.

As swish, savvy and as self-entranced as Nichols’ earlier political satire ‘Primary Colors’, ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ is less afraid of exaggeration and extravagance, allowing Philip Seymour Hoffman’s seemingly bewigged CIA boffin a grandstanding introduction destroying his superior’s glass office in petulance or indulging Hanks’ self-satisfied sexism to his little harem of ‘jailbait’ secretaries.

But if the film’s lack of real bite or requisite splashes of genuine acid keep it firmly in the limited bounds of slightly old-fashioned, liberal hearted light comedy, Aaron ‘The West Wing’ Sorkin’s snappy, sharp and sometimes sophisticated dialogue offers pleasures aplently, the performances are likeable and entertaining, while Nichols pumps the whole proceedings with a satisfyingly fluid, dramatic energy.

Author: Wally Hammond

Time Out London Issue 1951: January 9-15 2008

Email Tweet Share

User reviews of this film

Taomaster said...

Posted on Oct 19 2008 12:22 Why would Tom Hanks choose this? That's simple, he knows which side his bread is buttered. This movie is yet another instance of Hollywood rewriting history in a sugar coated patriotic self embrace.
Even as a "fictionalised" account of the main character's story it is a poor screenplay, lacking any meaningful dramatic conflict or tension. As a comedy it was mild satire at best. But as historically informative? Give me a f...ing break! A movie that claims to tell the story of the Afghan Russian war of the 80's without a single mention of its main player Osama Bin Laden is just such brazen propaganda I am amazed there are numpty's here eating it up? It fails to mention that it was the US that started that war. The Soviet backed socialist leaning government in Kabul was dealing with the type of terrorist conflict the US had been so good at in Central America, and feeling they were losing the battle against the US armed Mujahideen they invited the Russians in to defend them. That is how the war started. When the US started to lose that war they raised the stakes. Enter Bin Laden courtesy of the then head of the CIA George Bush Senior (also a Texan not mentioned in this scenario) who was closely associated with the Bin Laden family. By using Bin Laden and the Saudi's as a conduit for financing, arming and training the Mujahideen the loosely veiled US involvement was politicised.
I am sure some of Charlie Wilson’s involvement is true and I am even more certain that this womanising drunken letch was just a tool used by the CIA and not visa versa. You only have to have been alive and following the events to see through this propaganda tripe. But for all those of you for whom this is just history and you get your “information” from Sky or Fox News, educate yourself.

Report as inappropriate
Warning said...

Posted on Oct 02 2008 23:12 Some slick dialogue and Hoffman's performance sooth the agony of the message; the one about good intentions and bumbling execution. I couldn't possibly rewatch a second of this hoohar to check, but I think the music is mercifully subdued, too, adding to the watchability. 1/10.

Report as inappropriate
SovietHelicopter said...

Posted on Jul 12 2008 12:40 Well, here is another opinion, "from the other side", if you like. I just finished watching the movie. My respect for T. Hanks dropped a few notches. As for Julia Roberts, she should be ashamed of herself to have starred in it ! The Russians are portrayed as total evil. When you sing praises to the trio think of American servicemn killed in Vietnam ! They were sent there by their own government ! Same with the young Soviet soldiers. Nobody asked them if they wanted to go to Afghanistan ! Think of the American mothers and Russian mothers grieving for their son who would never return home ! As for Afghanistan the US of A are having now to clean up their own mess ! Serves them right !!

Report as inappropriate
philip chance said...

Posted on May 12 2008 03:25 I think this film was made to entertain and inform and suceeds admirably.The script is mostly brilliant, the characters rich, flawed and fascinating and it attempts to deal with complex issues in a mature even-handed way..totally enjoyable and Seymour Hoffman is,as usual,better than perfect

Report as inappropriate
Lara said...

Posted on Feb 05 2008 17:31 Enjoyable for the fast paced and often witty dialogue. It left me more intrigued to investigate further than truely enlightened about the Afgan war of the '80s but a fun political satire piece notwithstanding that.

Report as inappropriate
Dirtyhands said...

Posted on Feb 03 2008 12:39 Don't expect deep political drama or anything based on the truth. It has some witty lines in it but it is total American feel-good mush. Wilson, his CIA friend and the rest of his gang being portrayed as some good hearted people helping out the Afghans. The Russians as total evil. The funniest thing about this film is that it claims Charlie Wilson and his lover basically defeated the Soviets in Afghanistan. And that American interference in the rest of the world is about good heart but ignorance rather than motivated by money and imperialism.

Report as inappropriate
adlehs said...

Posted on Jan 31 2008 13:36 It's a fun, interesting film with great dialogue. Yes, it's quite American and Julia Roberts looks slightly wierd, but it is a very interesting story. In contrast to the review above, I liked the ending, it wasn't heavy handed and let the viewer to make the link themselves with what followed in Afghanistan. Very enjoyable.

Report as inappropriate
Sutton said...

Posted on Jan 30 2008 13:31 An interesting and enjoyable movie giving an insight into the past (and present) troubles in Afghanistan. Great performances from Hanks and Hoffman (a man in form). Go see and ignore the dodgy posts below.

Report as inappropriate
John said...

Posted on Jan 27 2008 18:47 The comments posted so far demonstrate how difficult it is to satisfy a broad audience. If the film makers set out to entertain and inform the typical voter, they generally succeed, They help place contemporary events in a context relevant today, and show how current leadership in the USA is lacking in any understanding of the impact and relevance of even the most recent history.

Report as inappropriate
Rikki said...

Posted on Jan 26 2008 14:15 HAHAHA Martin Freye you nerd. Is quite a bad film though.

Report as inappropriate
vince allen said...

Posted on Jan 22 2008 16:21 Little originality at all in this film. Given that Hanks can choose what to do, why do this? It tells us nothing we don';t know and is almost apologetice for looking forward at the consequences of apparent lack of further US involvement in Afghanistan. Comic - yes, in parts, but easy laughs about the US congress and oneupmanship of the CIA man who knows his stuff better than his superior. Bland and predictable. I was looking for a real twist at the end to make the point. It was vaguely there and understated in the extreme. Were we supposed to be glorying too in a man whose goal seemed to be to kill Russians?

Report as inappropriate
TL Frederick said...

Posted on Jan 20 2008 12:22 Interesting, insightful, fast-paced and classic new Hollywood fare. Mike Nichols and Aaron Sorkin have made a captivating film. You won't be bored -- you'll laugh and find the whole thing simply amazing. Phil Hoffmann is superb, and Tom Hanks pulls off one of his most nuanced performances in a long time.

Report as inappropriate
Craig said...

Posted on Jan 18 2008 12:04 I can't believe the posts above. This is one of the best films I have seen in a while. The film is about the characters involved in the story, and deals with, but doesn't dwell too much on the situation in Afghanistan with the Soviets. The images of the war are poignant but not too over the top, and the story of how a few dedicated people effected the lives of so many is an inspiring one. The acting is first class, the characters portrayed are superb, and if Charlie Wilson swore in real life, how can you expect a serious film maker to dumb this down? You will not find a better made film of this type, it's very funny too. Martin, you should take your daughter and wife to see this film and let them make up their own minds instead of vetting the film for them and you might spark a lively debate. Jean it is either the worst film you've ever seen, or the worst film you've seen in years it can't be both. If you're still unsure, trust me, watch this film, and post your comment..

Report as inappropriate
Jean Outwin said...

Posted on Jan 17 2008 00:45 This is the worst film I have ever seen in years if I was Tom Hanks or Julia Roberts I would be embarrased to have starred in it. They were both boring and uninteresting don't waste your money going to watch this film it was rubbish

Report as inappropriate
jess said...

Posted on Jan 15 2008 13:46 i thought this film to be an excellent insight into why present day problems in iraq have occured, america sold the weapons of mass distruction to iraq and are now in a 'blood for oil' war with iraq, this is a refreshing look at what exactly is the problem- AMERICA. scary to think were right up there a***s though eh?

Report as inappropriate