A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Charlie Wilson's War

Date Viewed: 12/27/07

Details:

Tom Hanks

Julia Roberts

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Amy Adams

Director: Mike Nichols

Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin

Score: +

The Review: How America -- in the person of congressman Charlie Wilson -- helped Afghanistan win their war against the Russians, and made the world safe for the Taliban. Or plot devices to that effect.

It's about 25 years ago -- Charlie Wilson (Hanks) is a wild and crazy guy, and ranking member on the House Foreign Relations committee. Joanne Herring (Roberts) is a very rich, very right wing Texan who decides to support Wilson and encourage him in his cause. And Gust Avrakotos (Hoffman) is a loose-cannon CIA agent who wanders into Wilson's office as it becomes clear that he (Wilson) doesn't really know what's going on in Afghanistan. This only partially fictionalized political drama is heavily laced with humor -- they really are a curious bunch of characters -- but has a deadly serious side to it that pops up as a postscript.

Based semi-loosely on George Crile's book, Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent Changed the History of Our Times. Screenplay dialog & repartee clearly from the pen of Aaron Sorkin (West Wing).

(9-Feb-08)

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