Charlie Wilson's War
Written by Aaron Sorkin
Directed by Mike Nichols
Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
"These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the endgame." These are the last words of Charlie Wilson's War, the latest political comedy in the spirit of Wag the Dog and Thank You for Smoking. The difference: this one's true. Well sort of. This is government as I imagine it actually is: inept, sexualized, self-serving. But sometimes moderately well-intentioned and certainly charming.
Sorkin wrote the West Wing and doesn't let you forget it for a second. The dialogue is snappy, scenes are short, even side characters hold stories. Politics becomes a poker game. My grandmother would complain the actors talk too fast, conveying too much information in a single monologue. But as a product of sitcoms, music videos, and gchat, I dig it. In terms of pacing, it is nearly perfect.
This is maybe the first adult role I've ever seen Julia Roberts take on. She nails it. Most notably when she gives Hanks instructions on how he is going to stage a covert war, post-coital, reapplying mascara and plucking tarantula eyes with a sewing needle. She was, in that moment, Angela Lansbury in Manchurian Candidate. It was scary. Pretty woman is growing up.
Certainly Hanks and Seymour Hoffman also deserve a shout out for atypical leading men. I would have watched Seymour as the Greek maverick CIA agent for an entire film. Also Amy Adams as the administrative aide. There is another episode there.
I recommend this film with one of the many varieties of biscotti at Bis. Co. Latte in midtown west (oatmeal chocolate chip!). Light, flavorful, good for a few bites. But maybe not hardy sustenance.
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