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| Charlie Wilson's War (Widescreen) | 
 enlarge | Director: Mike Nichols
Actors: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Ned Beatty
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.98
Buy New: $5.33
You Save: $24.65 (82%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $5.33
Avg. Customer Rating:  (109 reviews)
Sales Rank: 849
Format: Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: Arabic (Original Language), English (Original Language), Russian (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 102 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6
MPN: 61100566
UPC: 025195004848
EAN: 0025195004848
ASIN: B0013XZ2QK
Release Date: April 22, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: December 21, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Political movies about backroom negotiations need not be dry or heavy-handed, as Charlie Wilson's War delightfully proves. Based on the true story of playboy congressman Wilson's efforts to fund Afghanistan's defense against the Soviet invasion of the 1980s, the film is borne along on breezy attitude and a peppery script by West Wing scribe Aaron Sorkin. Wilson, played by Tom Hanks (who also produced), is the perfect hero for this kind of tale, because there's nothing perfect or heroic about him: He's a highball-swilling, fanny-pinching gadabout who becomes radicalized on the issue of helping the Afghans against their mighty aggressor. He has help in the form of a right-wing Texas anti-Communist (Julia Roberts) with a genius for raising money, and a sardonic CIA operative (Philip Seymour Hoffman, stealing the show) who lacks all the social skills Wilson has in abundance. Sorkin's syncopated speech is just the ticket for director Mike Nichols, who understands exactly how to keep this kind of political comedy popping (the complicated story comes in at a hair over 90 minutes, amazingly). Some scoundrels are on the right side of the angels, and the movie's Charlie Wilson is one of them. --Robert Horton
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Product Description
Academy Award winners Tom Hanks Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman star in this compelling and witty film from Oscar-winning director Mike Nichols and Primetime Emmy-winning writer Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing). Based on the outrageous true story Charlie Wilson's War shows how one congressman who loved a good time one Houston socialite who loved a good cause and one renegade CIA agent who loved a good fight conspired to bring about the largest covert operation in history.System Requirements:Running Time: 102 minutes Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/BIOGRAPHY Rating: R UPC: 025195004848 Manufacturer No: 61100566
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| Customer Reviews: Read 104 more reviews...
 For Leftists Only August 7, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have to honestly say this is one of the most politically biased films I've ever seen. As a conservative, its angle was so slanted that it managed to ruin its entertainment value entirely. Its writer, Aaron Sorkin, is also the author of "The West Wing" which will not surprise anyone once the credits play. The movie begins with Charlie Wilson saying, "That John Murtha is as clean as my mother's floor" in regards to an alleged ethics violations and goes downhill from there. Rudi Giuliani also gets dragged into the muck and his name comes up as a prosecutor trying to keep the protagonist down in a drug investigation (for which he was guilty). Wilson, just as with the majority of his leftist peers, thinks that with individual action the means always justify the ends. He bragged of first falling in love with his country after he manipulated a group of black voters to go to the polls and reject a guy who once killed his dog. As it always is with these people, the personal is political and war is permanently declared on reason.
All sorts of contemporary political issues are alluded to here such as the ACLU trying to ban Christian displays in public spaces. Predictably, Tom Hanks's Congressman Wilson parrots today's leftist talking points. He informs a preacher that he should move his nativity scene down the road to a church. Then he seduces (or is seduced?) by the preacher's daughter. We find that she's sexually fast and smokes dope--but of course! Yawn, are there any other kinds of preacher's daughters to be found in Hollywood films? The message is all the same politically correct counter-cultural dreck by which the left has been undermining this nation for forty years. Most offensive of all, was that of Julia Roberts being a member of the Minute Women, which automatically made her a right-wing crank as if being opposed to communism was somehow more of a sin than advocating for the totalitarian suppression of individual rights and the concomitant extermination of 100 million souls over the course of the last century. The film's abhorrent attempt to indoctrinate spoiled fine performances by Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Frankly, I can't help but wonder why Michael Moore didn't direct this one.
 AMERICA August 7, 2008
This is a good look at how one person can make a difference, when that person is armed with the Truth and Facts. "Charley Wilson's War" is an enjoyable movie full of Academy Award winning actors (Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman)I hope they do a movie about the 2008 Presidential Primary race and how Senator Hillary Clinton earned more votes than any other Presidential Primary candidate in history- Maybe base the movie on the work of Peniel Cronin, Primary versus Caucus.
A Good Look at Some History August 4, 2008
This movie is very well done with a strong cast. It's an up close look at a little known piece of history that still has significance for current affairs. The script uses humor to help us get through a serious set of events. The whole situation is thought-provoking both as to the methods used to achieve results and the cultures of the players in all the countries involved, including the US.
Great political drama August 3, 2008
This movie will appeal more to the "West Wing" fans than the "24" fans... the only war scenes in the film are news reel shorts in between Tom Hanks and Phillip Seymour Hoffman's maneuverings in the halls of Congress and the CIA. This movie gives a great portrayal of war as seen from the perspective of the power brokers inside the beltway. If you are into the political drama and eccentric, funny characters, you will love it.
well delivered July 29, 2008
I'm appreciating any film that casts light on the current hotspots in the world. This is a very compelling story about this hapless politician, and Tom Hanks played this part very well. His comic background aids in his ability to appeal and be likeable (I can't believe he could play an truly unpleasant part unpleasantly--and I am not aiming to damn by faint praise here). Philip Seymour Hoffman's entrance was unsurpassing...His chemistry with other characters worked. Julia Roberts' performance was a trifle stilted, I found. She delivered some lines well, but didn't quite fade into this character. While the film has funny parts, it does not deliver a funny story. The challenges in Afghanistan are so very many.
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