Universal Pictures/Playtone/Relativity Pictures
Released December 21, 2007
Yes! A political thriller! No! It stars Tom Hanks! Yes! Phillip Seymor Hoffman! No! Julia Roberts!
These were my thoughts heading into this film. Obviously conflicted, I relied on the 5 Golden Globe Nominations to comfort my matinée viewing in the slightly packed Saint Louis theater (for an astronomical 6 bucks). What ensued was an enjoyable hour and a half gem about the tribulations of Texas Congressional Representative Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) to garner support against the great Red army in Afghanistan during the Cold War. The film, based on a true story, was an overall success even when Julia Roberts did everything she could to ruin it.
Let's set it out on the table here. Anytime a film has a practically unknown and disrespected director like Mike Nichols (Primary Colors, yuk) and a cast with the likes of Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks and Phillip Seymor Hoffman, it is obviously going to be the actors who grab viewer's attention because of their big Oscar nod names. If you have been riding the Tom Hanks wagon for a while, you might be as disappointed as I was with his decision to sink to the worthlessness of The Da Vinci Code and let his hair grow into whatever that mullet thing was for that film. A man who basically is casted as himself in every film possible, I either steer far clear from Tom or unwillingly succumb to the grandeur of the opportunities he has in major Hollywood productions. This time, he saved his glory.
Charlie Wilson is a womanizing, alcoholic Congressman whose life put up on screen matched well with his internet reputation (Wikipedia like whoa). And Hanks did a great job of, well, being himself but also being Wilson. I was generally not convinced that the BEAUTIFUL women in this film would actually be attracted to him, but men in great places get great girls. His personality fit very well into this part and his attractor factor was apparent in the fantastic screenwriting.
Speaking of women who "suck," there is always Julia Roberts. I really don't understand why she is considered anything more than a good face but once again, she was a face. I wouldn't say great because the years since Pretty Woman show on the corners of her eyes and mildly attractive features. She played a Texan born again Christian whose financial and spiritual power help Charlie Wilson in his political campaign against Communism in the Middle East. Now a blond, Roberts struggled with a fake accent and failed to even deliver a comical "slut" line towards three sluts with success.
With every dark in this film came a light. Once again, Phillip Seymor Hoffman delivers a fantastic performance as a character unlike his own personal being -- thus confirming him as an actor with the most depth and breadth in the bizz. This time, Hoffman was a disgruntled, witty CIA spy who was the tactical mastermind of this Afghan campaign and is the unlikely but obvious match to the narcissistic Wilson. I am in awe of Hoffman's acting ability and have come to believe that he can single handedly bring up the acting of 5 actors alone. His nod for a Golden Globe nomination was a no brainer.
In a film dominated by big name actors, the recreation of this historical moment was done practically without flaw. The film came and went without supstantial drag or exposition through dialog. The mixture of anti and pro-American sentiments only bolstered the story that, to my liking, ended with an inter-title with the f-word about the states. Humorous and stimulating, the film is a must see over the holiday season.
3.3 out of 4
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