Charlie Wilson's War

Blaine

Mr. Hollywood
I'm going to see this Monday evening with a Q&A with Aaron Sorkin afterward. I can't wait to hear him talk about writing. He's one of the best writer for the screen, be it the big one or the small one. I'll give a review after seeing it, but I've got to say I'm looking forward to this movie. :beer:
 
I'm dating myself here but I knew nothing of Charlie Wilson, or the Soviet-Afghan war. I had to do a little research and now I'm totally intrigued.

Looking forward to your review.
 
I just got back from watching this tonight. Sometimes I forget just how good Aaron Sorkin is. This was a really well crafted movie. And very funny. This might be the best I've seen from Tom Hanks. What a character Charlie Wilson was and I bought into Hanks 100%. Julia Roberts was adequate, nothing special. She did play an older woman here. Philip Seymour Hoffman. He may be the best "supporting" actor working today.

This movie was a real surprise for me. I was expecting it to be good, but I wasn't expecting it to be THIS good. I can't stress enough how great the dialogue was. This movie was rated R for language and nudity. Probably for drug use, too. A lot of eye candy here, too. This is definitely a "different" Tom Hanks than you're used to, and that's a good thing. You gotta love Charlie's "angels". His staff was all beautiful young women. Charlie, "You can teach them to type, but you can't teach them to grow tits." To summon them, "Jailbait!" and they come running.

Afterward, there was a quick Q&A with Aaron Sorkin. He basically talked about being a playwright and how he parleyed that into becoming a screenwriter. He talked about writer's block, which he definitely gets. He also talked about how he introduced Hoffman's character in an arguement with his boss. Sorkin likes to get characters into a room and arguing.

That's it for now. This is one of the best movies I've seen this year. Definitely one of the best written.

No Country for Old Men
Charlie Wilson's War
Zodiac
American Gangster
3:10 to Yuma
 
Julia Roberts was adequate, nothing special.
That's pretty much been my opinion of her from day one. Nothing special.

Thanks for the review. This movie is one that has caught my interest lately. Will have to see it if I can find the time.
 
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Right now I'm watching: The True Story of Charlie Wilson's War on the History Channel. From everything see on here, the movie REALLY got it right for a change.
 
Well, I'm not going to drag this down the political road but I'd suggest you check out the program on the History Channel then do a little digging on your own (I did after watching the movie) then make a decision of your own.

Regardless of your political leanings, it's a hell of a good movie. :thumbsup:
 
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Good flick. Some great dialogue. A fascinating story...Kind of seemed like it was missing a third act. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is THE MAN. I want to see a GUST AVRAKOTOS movie. Just call it GUST!, and have mustachioed Hoffman on the poster holding a Russian babe in one hand, and a gun in the other.
 
Is the point of this movie to bore you to death? I'm 25 minutes in and falling asleep!

I don't get it. I know he's Tom Hanks. And that he's playing a congressman. But as far as the character he's playing, I'm at a loss to explain why all these beautiful women are throwing themselves at him. It doesn't make any sense at all. I guess since I don't believe him, I don't really care about the rest of the movie. And what's up with the weird cheesy war scenes?
 
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I just watched the movie. I loved it. Funny, smart, thought provoking. Really good on all fronts. I just wish that someone other than Julia Roberts was in the movie, cause I can't stand her. Not now not ever.
 
I'm with CG. Found it kind of boring. It had it's fun moments, like when Charlie was throwing out the CIA guy to talk to the girls and vise versa, dealing with two problems at once.

And the girls were nice.

But the dialogue, even though was funny, was sometimes a bit hard to follow, especially when you don't know what's going on. I also feel like there was a lack of a third act. It just kept dragging. Okay, you're supplying them with weapons and now it's over... where's this going?

It was well written (or poorly, depending on your point of view), but on a personal level, I really did not enjoy it.

I suppose cause I already knew this happened that it wasn't thought provoking either. I just never knew it was so in-depth.

Plus Tom Hanks, even though he did a good job, is just becoming too recognizable. Like in the terminal, I just didn't believe that he couldn't speak english simply because I keep seeing the guy in catch me if you can trying to pronounce the french city with an outrageous english accent. Same in this movie. I kept expecting to see him take out a pistol and start shooting some nazi's.

I also agree that Julia Roberts did not fit here at all.
 
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