The thing is, politics and paperwork don't
always make for entertaining popcorn fodder. Let's face it, which would
you rather fork you're cash out for? Cold War or Star Wars, Watergate or Water World (well, that's probably not the best example - but you get my point).
The fact is, it doesn't matter how important the message, unless those who willingly sit through National Treasure 2 (or any Nick Cage movie for that matter) can get their money's worth - it's barely worth the effort.
Thankfully, Charlie Wilson's War
delivers some home truths in a easily digestible sugar coated exterior
- making it all the sweeter for those who actually understand what's
going on in today's world.
In the film, Tom Hanks takes on the
real-life role of Charlie Wilson, a playboy congressman who teams up
with a renegade CIA agent (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and a beautiful
Houston socialite (Julia Roberts) to lead the largest and most
successful covert operation in history. Set in the care free "strippers
& cocaine" days of the 1980s Wilson somehow manages to turn funding
for covert operations against the Soviets in Afghanistan from $5
million to $1 billion annually.
Forget the political diatribe,
the satire, the poignant highlighting of the fact that even when
America tries to do a good thing - they're still the bad guys, the
success of the film ultimately comes down to one thing: humour. The
real reason Charlie Wilson works so well is because it's just so damn funny.
Every
performance is delivered to perfection, with Hanks (who seems to be
sharing wigs with Nick Cage of late) & Hoffman (who looks more and
more like Peter Helliar each time I see him) riffing off one another
like an old-time cabaret act. A special mention must also go to Amy
Adams (Enchanted)
who pops up here, purely because this girls stocks in Hollywood have
seemed to shoot up from absolutely nowhere... really... when the hell
did she become hot property?
The screenplay by West Wing
creator Adam Sorkin (based on the book by George Crile) is also as
sharp as a tack, packing in a whole bunch of important information
while keeping the flick entertaining & pacey throughout.
While the action sequences do look a little cartoonish at times (like they were edited from the more expensive CGI scenes of Hot Shots 2) the film's upbeat and good natured vibe does work in it's favour moreso than it works against it.
Ultimately if a film can educate & entertain, then it's done it's job. And for all involved in Charlie Wilson's War - it's a job well done. EXTRAS
There's
a couple of featurettes tacked on here, surprisingly, they are above
average. Generally these sorts of things are major snooze-fests and are
so fluffy they could be mistaken for Fairy Floss.
History buffs will be most interested in "Who is Charlie Wilson" which details the man behind the movie.
Who needs the History Channel!!
Conclusion:
Movie 80% Extras: 60%
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