Politics and movies don't usually mix, as with the case with some certain actors. But if it's politics in movies, that's different. In the early 1980's, Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) is a womanizing US congressional representative from Texas who seems to be in minor leagues, except for the fact that he is a member of two major foreign policy and covert-op committees. However, prodded by his major conservative supporter Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), Wilson learns about the plight of the people suffering in the brutal Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. With the help of the maverick CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Wilson dedicates his canny political efforts to supply the Afghan mujahideen with the weapons and support to defeat the Soviet Union.
I think I would've liked the movie a bit more had I been more aware of the events depicted in it. The performances were good, more so from Hanks and Hoffman. I wasn't expecting much from Mike Nichols' direction (mind you, the only other movie I've seen by him was The Graduate), but it was good.
My Rating: ****
You haven't seen a lot of Nichols? You are missing out! He casts people who look like they shouldn't be together and make them look like they've been friends/lovers for years. "Virginia Woolf," "Closer," "Angels in America," "Primary Colours," "Carnal Knowledge," and of course, the seminal "Working Girl."
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this film. Well-acted and, surprisingly, the ending was actually quite moving. You should definitely check out Nichols' "Closer." One of my favorites of the 2000s.
ReplyDeleteinteresting. the commercial looked dumb but based on yoru review, i guess it's worth checking out.
ReplyDeleteBilled as a comedy, this fact based story about how funds were raised covertly to help the Afghans defeat the Russians in the 80s', is very funny but also very sad. Think "Mr Smith Goes to Washington" by way of the gates of hell.
ReplyDeleteFranky, the only redeeming quality about this flick were the scenes with Hoffman and Hanks together. Julia Roberts and her uncomfortable performance nearly ruined it for me. Just didn't dig it.
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