CHARLIE
WILSON’S
WAR
With
Tom
Hanks,
Philip
Seymour
Hoffman,
Julia
Roberts,
Amy
Adams
Directed
by Mike
Nichols
Co-written
by George
Crile
of 60
Minutes
(based
on his
book),
this
comedic
biopic
looks
at American
congressman
Charlie
Wilson
whose
determined
efforts
and
lobbying
during
the
‘80s
Cold
War
era
made
it possible
for
the
Afghans
to wage
a bloody
war
with
the
occupying
Russians
(and
their
helicopter
gun-ships).
This
was
due
to a
huge
chunk
of the
billions
in U.S.
defense
budget
being
funneled
into
weapons
acquisition
(sent
undercover
into
Afghanistan
via
Pakistan)
–
many
of which
no doubt
ended
up being
used
against
American
troops
in the
early
2000’s
“War
On Terrorism”
(as
was
the
case
with
Bush
Sr.
and
his
first
Iraqi
war
attempt).
While
this
is no
laughing
matter
(with
a large
amounts
of Afghans
and
Russians
dying
in the
conflict),
the
filmmakers
depict
Wilson
as a
good
‘ol
boy
with
a serious
patriotic
streak,
but
also
a taste
for
the
good
life,
part
of his
alliance
including
a CIA
operative
and
wealthy
socialite.
Extras
include
a featurette
shedding
light
on the
real
Charlie
Wilson.
4
/ C
- Paul
Blom
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A -
B
- C
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