Charlie Wilson's War: Movie Review

Charlie Wilson's War
Reviewed by Marti
CS Rating: Hoffman saves the day
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472062/

I love Aaron Sorkin, screenwriter of Charlie Wilson's War. He's what you think of when you think 'writer', the way a writer should be. He has all the qualifications: He's lived hand to mouth in crappy jobs when he was young, he's had past drug problems, has chain smoked; and he looks like a geek.

I was an avid fan of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and it was a crime it was cancelled by NBC. At least Sorkin had had his long day in the sun with the Oscar nominated A Few Good Men and the Emmy worthy West Wing because not even Julia Roberts in a bikini or naked girls doing coke in a hot tub can save this film. Which is a real shame, I wanted to love this.

It's Golden Globes blow out didn't surprise me. The film is certainly informative and parts are entertaining, especially in Charlie's office, it's like Charlie's Angel's meets the West Wing. But does it work as a movie? Not in the traditional sense.

I walked out of the movie house and I still have no idea of who Charlie Wilson is. Only Hoffman's character (Gust Avrakotos) comes across as a real, 3 dimensional character.

Is Sorkin's writing to blame or is it the no show acting of Hanks and Roberts? I watch this movie and it’s like a war is going on between Hanks and Roberts dealing with their lines.
But it dawns on me, Sorkin's script and Mike Nichols' Direction meant all this - that unremarkable people can do remarkable things, that politics is all show business and the best things in show business are the shallow and fun loving.

The women of Charlie Wilson's War are fun and captivating, from the radiant Julia Roberts, the young and blood boiling Emily Blunt, to his sexy all girl admin staff led by the sweet Amy Adams.

Critics have pointed to the appeal of this film as 'grown up', but I think they miss the point. Grown up subject matter doesn't equate grown up film.

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