Great Film overall

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

This is a great movie telling of the behind the scenes of what US did to end the Russian invasions in the Middle East. 97% of the movie covers the steps leading up to the end of the invasion. The remaining 3% only mentions the terrible, terrible decisions the US and the Middle East countries did post aftermath. This is the part that most do not comprehend because they severely lack the knowledge to fully understand the implications this had on everyone, and I mean everyone even today.If you're one of the later watchers that doesn't know their history then you can't appreciate the movie in its entirety nor the subtle cries it makes. I would highly to either read up on the wars before watching it or doing that afterwards and watch it again.I make the above comment because although Charlie did do a great thing to end the invasions the US decisions afterwards essentially created what we have today. The lack of support allowed for the increase chaos over the decades to build to the horrors the world is seeing today.Do your research you'll enjoy and hate the movie a lot more.

Charlie Wilson's War (2007): Dir: Mike Nichols / Cast: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Emily Blunt: Provocative drama about one man's journey into overthrowing the Soviet Union. Congressman Charlie Wilson embarks on a quest to send arms to Afghanistan whom are at war with the Soviets. Attitude and placement of humour are off balance but director Mike Nichols advocates a strong point of view. He also presents Wilson's flaws verses his accomplishments. Nichols is an accomplished director with such titles as The Graduate and The Birdcage. Tom Hanks is superb as Wilson who holds his own under the spotlight of the media. Julia Roberts plays Joanne Herring whom establishes his contacts. What really works here is how the screenplay doesn't play off a romantic fling and presents these individuals as people. Strong supporting work by Philip Seymour Hoffman who steals scenes as a foul CIA agent. Amy Adams also steals moments as Wilson's administrative assistant. Other roles are not quite as broad, and Emily Blunt is featured amongst actors who have had more challenging roles. What is interesting is that she holds strong even in the company of such famous leads. The film is well made, ranking as one of Nichols's best efforts. Interesting film about the defeat of the Soviet Union through one man's dealings. Score: 8 ½ / 10

I am astonished that they went to the trouble of making this movie in spite of the revelations after the 9-11 tragedy. There is no acknowledgment that the funding of the Afghan rebels led directly to the formation of Al-Qaeda and all that followed. Maybe Wilson et al, are indirectly responsible for all that?So, I now wonder how these people, Wilson and Herring especially, can look themselves in the mirror or show their faces in public. Or maybe America would rather gloat over their "victory" over the Soviets?But there is merit in the writing, some great gags, some subtle twists, some quotable lines, the saddest being at the very end, where there is a tiny hint that maybe it might not really achieve what they all thought it was going to.

Charlie Wilson's War walks a bizarre and uncommon line between political drama and playboy comedy. You won't find many films out there like it. Therefore, what Mike Nichols and co create on screen is a novel, entertaining film with a serious story to tell. It tells the story of Charlie Wilson, a playboy Texas Congressman who finds himself in an easy but very powerful position. His district doesn't want much, so he gets to vote yes a lot. And when a powerful woman in his district becomes passionate about the cause, Charlie finds himself in Afghan refugee camps and his view of the world changes.Aaron Sorkin is a master of words, but I won't pretend that Charlie Wilson's War is a Social Network or a West Wing. The script of Charlie Wilson's War is a lot weaker than those are. But its still classic Sorkin - politically savvy, full of razor sharp dialogue and has some incredibly memorable moments. Case in point, the scene where Gust Avrakatos screams at Henry Craverly about not giving him a promotion, or the scene in which Wilson meets Avrakatos for the first time. There's a lot of banter going on in this film, even in scenes where you wouldn't expect, and its utterly delightful.Mike Nichols does some great work behind the scenes. The aforementioned scene where Avrakatos meets Wilson unfolds like a play, its really quite special. Avrakatos goes out on door, Wilson's staff come in the other. Wilson picks up his dialogue between both with aplomb. The contrast between two scenes, one in which Wilson is on fire making billion dollar deals and the other he's trying to rebuild, is very powerful and very effective.But there are times where I questioned the choices Nichols and Sorkin made. There are lines of dialogue that really don't fit ("I have no ***** idea who this guy is!" breaks up what is otherwise a master scene between Slattery and Hoffman) and scenes that make even less sense (apparently Joanne gets married during the film, to Wilson's loneliness, but one scene later they openly kiss). Some scenes are funny that shouldn't be, and there isn't as much emotional devastation to the camp scenes as there should be. The film's climactic scene, ostensibly put in because producer Tom Hanks didn't want a sad ending, really screws up the message its trying to make.But the film's strongest asset, and the one that makes up for all of the flaws, is the masterful acting. Tom Hanks is startlingly well cast as Charlie Wilson. At times, he could be an older version of Forrest Gump, he's so jovial and loud. He carries the film's funniest moments and also its more tender ones (even those that don't fit are good because of Hanks). Amy Adams is sweetly adorable as Hanks' executive assistant, with her big eyes and trustworthy nervous smile, she wins the audience over with ease, especially during some of the refugee camp scenes. Julia Roberts is serviceable, showing a bit of talent but mostly just hiding under that huge wig. But it is in this moment where I must dedicate space to Phillip Seymour Hoffman. This is one of my favourite performances of his, and likely his most memorable after Boogie Nights. He's the perfect balance of calm and furious. He nails Sorkin's beautiful words with style, and he creates cinematic gold. What a well-earned Oscar nod, and were it not for Javier Bardem, I think Hoffman might have taken home a second Oscar. Charlie Wilson's War walks an untread path, and comes out unscathed. Its not perfect, but it handles the weird balance very well. Its well-acted, well-scripted and very entertaining, and ultimately, you can't ask for much more.