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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > The Lounge > Non-Civil War Books, Movies, Music, etc. > Charlie Wilson's War |
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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > The Lounge > Non-Civil War Books, Movies, Music, etc. > Charlie Wilson's War |
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| Charlie Wilson's War | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29th, 2007 02:15 am |
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1st Post |
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CleburneFan Member 
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Hubby, our son and I saw this movie "Charlie Wilson's War" just before Christmas. It is based on an actual Texas congressman, Charlie Wilson, who was instrumental in securing the funding and subsequently the weapons--Stingers-- to help the Afghanistan Mujahadeen fight and eventually defeat their Soviet attackers. The movie is riveting because it shows the relationships of some amazing and unexpected people who came together in a kind of alliance to bring assistance to the Afghanistanis who were suffering terrible injuries and losses in their fight against the Soviets. All the while the US pretty much looked the other way in an effort not to anger the Soviets. Tom Hanks plays the hard drinking, womanizing Charlie Wilson. Phillip Seymore Hoffman plays the CIA agent who helps Wilson and Julia Roberts plays the Texan socialite who persuades Wilson to take on the cause of the Afghanis. You can't make up people like this. They really existed and they really achieved what they set out to do against all odds and opposition. Today the History Channel ran a two-hour documentary that showed the real people as they looked then and as they look now. This show filled in many details the movie was not able to cover. I couldn't tear myself away and scurried around like crazy during ads to get my chores done. I highly recommend both the movie and the History Channel documentary. If you can see both, all the better. I thought Phillip Seymore Hoffman was especially good as the CIA agent. He provided some much needed comic relief to the movie, yet what he did wasn't funny. He is one of my favorite actors. Some friends of mine saw the movie. They said their impression was how they movie shows the way we just walked away from Afghanistan after the Soviets left, was a preamble to what eventually happened in 2001. It showed the tremendous responsibilty we take on when we become involved in another country , entering into very complex and complicated cultural, political and social relationships we can't fully comprehend. Charlie Wilson, who was accused of coccain use, was involved in a car wreck and struggled with an alcohol problem still managed to achieve something remarkable. I wonder why we don't hear more about him. I never even knew he existed let alone the socialite and the CIA agent. Last edited on Sat Dec 29th, 2007 02:17 am by CleburneFan |
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29th, 2007 02:24 am |
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2nd Post |
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ole Member 
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Thanks, Fan. I'm becoming quite weary of Tom Hanks, but maybe I'll give him another chance -- based on your recommendation. ole
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29th, 2007 02:36 am |
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3rd Post |
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CleburneFan Member
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Hi, Ole. I'm weary of Tom Hanks too, but he really does Charlie Wilson justice in his portrayal of the congressman. He redeems himself for his work in "The DiVinci Code" and that horrible hair cut he had in that disappointing movie. Philipp Seymore Hoffman shows us again why he is an Oscar award winning actor. He has appeared in three excelelnt movies this year each with an entirely different type of character. He is a versatile actor, but not the traditional matinee idol type. Julia Roberts actually does look a lot like the socialite did in those eighties. I am also quite weary of Roberts, but I do think she was perfectly cast in thsi role. I hope you like the movie as much as I did. It never slows down and drags at any point. Last edited on Sat Dec 29th, 2007 02:37 am by CleburneFan |
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29th, 2007 05:13 am |
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4th Post |
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ole Member
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Y'know, I have no idea who Philipp Seymore Hoffman is. Guess I should see more than a couple of movies a year just to keep up. Did watch "Ratatouille" tonight, though. It was cute. ole
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29th, 2007 10:35 am |
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5th Post |
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CleburneFan Member
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Whoops! I've been spelling his name wrong. It is Philipp Seymour Hoffman. Hoffman has appeared in many movies and in stage productions. Just a few of his notable films are: The Big Lebowski, Boogie nights, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Cold Mountain, Empire Falls, Mission Impossible III, Before the Devil Knows You Are Dead, The Savages, and plays rogue CIA agent Gust Avrakotos in Chralie Wilson's War. For his role in "Capote", Hoffman received an Oscar for Best Actor, a Golden Globe for the same and a BAFTA award. For Empire Falls he was an Emmy nominee.
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29th, 2007 12:15 pm |
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6th Post |
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Doc C Member 
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Charlie Wilson's War is on my short list of movies to see. Hoffman was incredible in Capote, in fact, read In Cold Blood and Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird again. My wife and I just saw The Kite Runner in Atlanta. Great, great movie. Not as good as the book but still a great effort. Doc C
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| Posted: Tue Jan 1st, 2008 03:04 pm |
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7th Post |
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younglobo Member 
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Cleburnefan Wrote.... Julia Roberts actually does look a lot like the socialite did in those eighties. I am also quite weary of Roberts, but I do think she was perfectly cast in thsi role. Is this possible ?? Egads!!
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