| Charlie Wilson's War [2007] | ![Charlie Wilson's War [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TF-n3JrtL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Mike Nichols
Actors: Tom Hanks, Amy Adams, Julia Roberts, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Ned Beatty
Studio: Universal Pictures UK
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 756
Format: Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Running Time: 102 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5050582550474
ASIN: B0014JGFD2
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: May 5, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Overlooked in the end at the Academy Awards, and not ratcheting up the box office you'd perhaps expect of a Tom Hanks movie, Charlie Wilson's War is nonetheless a challenging, entertaining and underappreciated film, that deserves to find a bigger audience on DVD. Starring Hanks in the title role, the strength of Charlie Wilson's War is in some talented people doing what they do best. Hanks eases into his part, as the Texas congressman who uses his extensive contacts book and unorthodox nature (which is putting it mildly) to initiate and wage a secret war. Alongside him is Julia Roberts on fine form in a small part, and the excellent Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who is at the heart of the film's best, and funniest, moments. Gluing Charlie Wilson's War together is an assured turn behind the camera from veteran director Mike Nichols. Nichols, still best known for The Graduate, is confident enough to let the comedy in a deathly serious story play out, while not shirking the drama either. It's a tender balancing act, that only flusters a little near the end. It's not a perfect film, and the tone may be a little uneasy for some. But Charlie Wilson's War is, nonetheless, a very strong piece of American cinema, that has questions to ask, and manages to entertain at the same time. Well worth discovering. --Jon Foster
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| Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...
 Surprisingly good November 4, 2008
I didn't think this would be anywhere near as enjoyable as it is. I really liked it, and found it to be surprisingly good.
 Don't buy if you want to know what really happened November 1, 2008
It's not a bad film as pure entertainment but, naturally, it depicts Americans as good (though flawed) and Russians as essentially evil. I should add that I'm no fan of the appalling Soviet Empire but we now know that, far from saving Afghanistan from Russia, the US government (and the CIA) provoked the Russian invasion as part of their Cold War strategy. Whether or not you think this policy was worthwhile in harming the Soviet Empire, the fact remains that Charlie Wilson's War totally ignores the real story. This from a 1998 interview (in a French publication) with Zbigniew Brzezinski, Jimmy Carter's National Security Advisor:
Q: When the Soviets justified their intervention by asserting that they intended to fight against a secret involvement of the United States in Afghanistan, people didn't believe them. However, there was a basis of truth. You don't regret anything today?
Brzezinski: Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it? The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter: We now have the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam war. Indeed, for almost 10 years, Moscow had to carry on a war unsupportable by the government, a conflict that brought about the demoralization and finally the breakup of the Soviet empire.
Q: And neither do you regret having supported the Islamic [integrisme], having given arms and advice to future terrorists?
Brzezinski: What is most important to the history of the world? The Taliban or the collapse of the Soviet empire? Some stirred-up Moslems or the liberation of Central Europe and the end of the cold war?
Surprisingly interesting movie! October 23, 2008
Worth watching just for Hoffman's character, who manages to consistently upstage the two heavyweight leads of Hanks and Roberts. This guy is completely in the spirit and period of the movie and makes the other two look like they're hamming it up something rotten.
I initially rented this and assumed the unskippable advert was only on the rental copy - bit of a shameful oversight if it's on the bought version, I think.
Good but could have been better October 23, 2008
I have to agree with the reviews on here, this film covers a very touchy subject and gives you an insight into American politics. A floored but good congressman (Hanks) stumbles into a war that he didn't know that much about, upon finding out the true story dedicates his career with the help of a wealthy texas woman (Roberts) to righting the injustice, and in steps another floored but honest character (Hoffman). However a 90 minute movie on such a subject when no-one would blink if it were 2 hours doesn't do it justice. I feel if they had gone a bit further it would have been so much better.........
Great Film, hate the advert September 29, 2008
Although I already knew about US involvement in the covert war, it was interesting to see it splashed onto screen - not sure how the US Govt feel about it as it shows them being dragged into helping via Wilson, et al, rather than being proactive about it! The cast do a great job at getting into the skin of the characters they portray. I feel the film portray's Wilson's frustrations very well. Having rented the film, it is one I do feel I would buy. However - along with several comments here - that UNICEF advert at the beginning is incredibly annnoying. Was staggered that could not fast forward it, skip it, or get to the Menu. Never come across that before and it really wound me up as had to endure it. More likely to contrbute to UNICEF as a result? No.
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