It’s not often that movies based on someone’s life are funny. I Love you Philip Morris is one example I can think of, but so is Charlie Wilson’s War, despite the serious subject of the tension that was brewing in Afghanistan between the local people and the invading Russian army.
Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) is a politician from Texas who lives a very luxurious life while he has his seat in the American Congress. He likes his women, booze and drugs and really has fun with it all. When he sees the situation in Afghanistan on TV something changes. He decides to do something about it and finds out that America is hardly spending any money on getting the Russians out of Afghanistan.
He’s helped by Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) who, although she’s not a politician, does know the right people to get things done. There is also help from CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who really doesn’t care what the people within the CIA think of him. Together they try to make some money available for Afghanistan.
The acting of both Roberts and Hanks is great, but it really is Hoffman who shines in each scene he’s in. The dialogue is excellent and very funny.
This movie shows the difference one person can make (something Daniel Ellsberg showed as well). It’s not always about following the rules, but knowing the right people to get things done. Wilson was wasn’t a well-known politician and it is something he used to great effect.
Charlie Wilson’s War is a fun movie, with witty and sharp dialogue and a very interesting story. It’s definitely recommended.
Score: 9
Looking forward to see this one. If I’m not mistaken Amy Adams also has a minor part in the movie, so overall the cast ensemble looks so much appealing.