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Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
21 December 2007 (USA)
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Tagline:
Based on a true story. You think we could make all this up? more
Plot:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Texas
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Afghanistan
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1980s
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Soviet Union
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CIA
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Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 3 wins
&
10 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(92 articles)
Mike Nichols Has Achieved Much in His Lifetime, Says AFI
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 12 October 2009, 11:51 AM, PDT)
Mike Nichols to Get AFI Life Achievement Honor
(From The Wrap. 11 October 2009, 1:52 PM, PDT)
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 12 October 2009, 11:51 AM, PDT)
Mike Nichols to Get AFI Life Achievement Honor
(From The Wrap. 11 October 2009, 1:52 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Charlie Wilson's War Movie Review
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Tom Hanks | ... | Charlie Wilson |
 | Amy Adams | ... | Bonnie Bach |
 | Julia Roberts | ... | Joanne Herring |
 | Philip Seymour Hoffman | ... | Gust Avrakotos |
 | Terry Bozeman | ... | CIA Award Presenter |
 | Brian Markinson | ... | Paul Brown |
 | Jud Tylor | ... | Crystal Lee |
 | Hilary Angelo | ... | Kelly |
 | Cyia Batten | ... | Stacey |
| Kirby Mitchell | ... | Stoned Guy |
 | Ed Regine | ... | Limo Driver |
| Daniel Eric Gold | ... | Donnelly |
 | Emily Blunt | ... | Jane Liddle |
| Peter Gerety | ... | Larry Liddle |
 | Wynn Everett | ... | Receptionist - Charlie's Angels |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for strong language, nudity/sexual content and some drug use.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
102 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Ireland:15A |
South Korea:15 |
Singapore:NC-16 |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) |
Australia:M |
Netherlands:12 |
Germany:12 |
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Finland:K-11 |
USA:R (certificate #44037) |
Argentina:13 |
Sweden:7 |
Hong Kong:IIB |
UK:15 |
Malaysia:18PL |
Brazil:14 |
Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) |
Spain:13 |
Portugal:M/12 |
New Zealand:M |
Iceland:12 (original rating) |
Iceland:16 (video rating)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Charlie Wilson said in a USA Today article that he had no qualms about the film, saying "Anything I might have objected to was provable".
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Goofs:
Continuity: In Gust's first scene, he fights with his boss about who owes whom an apology. The window that Gust had previously broken has just been replaced. As the fight continues and he's ordered out of the office, Gust breaks the window again, leaving shards of glass in the frame. In subsequent shots, most of the shards are gone.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
CIA Award Presenter: The defeat and break up of the Soviet empire, culminating in the crumbing of the Berlin wall, is one of the great events of world history. There were many heros in this battle, but to Charlie Wilson must go this special recognition. Just thirteen years ago the Soviet army appeared to be invincible...
more
CIA Award Presenter: The defeat and break up of the Soviet empire, culminating in the crumbing of the Berlin wall, is one of the great events of world history. There were many heros in this battle, but to Charlie Wilson must go this special recognition. Just thirteen years ago the Soviet army appeared to be invincible...
more
Soundtrack:
LET'S DANCE
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (241 total)
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Charlie's Wilson's War demonstrates with deft veracity just how futile wars can be, especially to the very people who spend countless hours and finances to fund them. Virtuoso performances and remarkably memorable characters teamed with a riotously sarcastic script catapult the film, helmed by the continuously unpredictable Mike Nichols, to the top of the year's best. Politics has never been so much fun.
Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) is a Texas congressman who is credited with almost single-handedly winning the Cold War. Hanging around plenty of drugs, women and scotch, he also takes an unexpected interest in the events in Afghanistan and the terrors of the Soviet Union in the 1980s. Enlisting the help of Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) a renegade CIA covert mission expert and Joanne (Julia Roberts), a wealthy socialite, he raises money to provide Afghanistan with the rocket launchers and antitank weaponry they need to cause serious damage to Russian military. Eventually by the end of the 80s the Cold War would come to an end, and the funds would immediately be cut, thereby removing all help for the fledgling country to rebuild and recoup.
The acting is exquisite, although it's to be expected from the more than accomplished cast. A large part of that however, should be attributed to the script, which allows each character to be undeniably well-developed and memorable. And a hearty helping of that credit goes to the novel of the same name, which is hilariously honest. Tom Hanks delivers yet another unequaled performance as Charlie Wilson, the man who did so much for so many and yet still remains relatively unknown. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Gust, a character that is vividly boffo in both his physicality and his wry cynicism; the inimitable Hoffman once again shows superb range in the characters he portrays. Julia Roberts is perhaps the only weak link of the film, with her generic snobbish character and not-subtle-enough accent. And then there's Wilson's "jailbait" squad of young secretaries that scamper about to keep him happy. Led by the always delightful Amy Adams, each supporting role has its mirthful moments.
Defeating the Soviet Union was not an easy task, especially considering the many conflicting goals between the various political leaders. "Why is Congress saying one thing and doing nothing?" queries a disgruntled politician. "Tradition mostly", returns Wilson. Everyone appears to want the Cold War to end, yet a blind eye is being turned to the atrocities taking place in Afghanistan. It takes a trip to the war-torn refugee camps in Pakistan to motivate Wilson, as well as with his main financial source Doc Long (Ned Beatty). Wilson uses strategic ties with committees to raise funding of weaponry in Afghanistan from $5 million to $10 million with a simple command, but the president of Pakistan scoffs at the idea of winning a war for such a trivial amount. By the end of the Wilson campaign, $1 billion is sent to the Mujahedin to shoot down Russian helicopters - the first step toward victory, as Wilson predicted. Beyond the scope of the film, the unresolved turmoil in Afghanistan led to further, less ignorable problems, which Wilson presumably foresaw.
During the course of Charlie Wilson's War, the main characters travel from the United States to Pakistan to Afghanistan to Jerusalem to Egypt, but wherever they go, sarcasm always follows. There's a surprising amount of comedy in the film, considering the political undertones are generally serious. Hoffman provides jokes with almost every exchange of dialogue, as does Hanks, with his naturally witty woman-chasing ideals. A scene early on featuring Gust being continually ushered in out of Wilson's office as he tries to straighten out a legal issue with his posse of gorgeous gals ("you can teach 'em to type, but you can't teach 'em to grow tits") reminds me of a slapstick routine from the Marx Brothers.
With the press focusing on the drug allegations against Wilson, instead of the important issues of the Cold War, and the conflicting desire of officials to budget their help, it's clear that by the end of the film, the politicians are still oblivious to what's really necessary. And since the screenplay is so quick-witted and astute, some audience members may not be able to keep up with all of the dialogue-intensive events. But, as demonstrated by the politicians who are ignorant as to the difference between Pakistan and Afghanistan, it's essentially another argument to support Charlie Wilson's point.
- Mike Massie