Movies
Related: About this forumCharlie Wilson's War
I liked this movie so much I bought a copy. I can take or leave Tom Hanks, usually, or maybe it's because I only saw a couple of his earlier films - Bonfire of the Vanities, which was really a Melanie Griffith and Bruce Willis vehicle, and Forrest Gump, which never worked for me. But there was serious acting in Charlie Wilson's War, truly from all the stars and names, and an extensive cast of also's and even more uncredited actors and actresses. Or don't we use actresses any more, actors includes the female variety now too?
I never realized, until I watched the film closely, and did more research, that Charlie Wilson, D-Texas, became so interested in Afghanistan initially, because he watched Dan Rather's reports from the war front. Dubbed by wags "Gunga Dan" for the attire of himself and crew as authentic rebels in the war complete with headress, and whatever they call all that garb - jerkas? It could really be said that 60 Minutes got the ball rolling on covert support for the Afghan rebels.
Make no mistake this is a great, entertaining film. You get Tom Hanks in his prime, unfettered because he's also producer, in a convincing southern drawl, Julia Roberts ditto where she's paid to act, and a fabulous performance from the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Gust Avrakotos. And why they chose a name no one could spell no matter how many times you saw it, I could swear he was an avocado all along, is beyond me. I mean there are a lot of Greek names they could have gone with.
DinahMoeHum
(22,511 posts). . .didn't hurt either.
Same guy who wrote the screenplays for A Few Good Men, The West Wing and The Trial Of The Chicago 7, btw.
zipplewrath
(16,692 posts)There is a speech in that movie towards the end that foreshadowed what we are seeing in today's politics.
underpants
(187,007 posts)The beginning of his political activity (the dog story) was encapsulated into an actual elevator speech. Its one of the most interesting stories to me.
Docreed2003
(17,852 posts)BTW would highly recommend the book the film is based on. It's very detailed and intriguing.
bucolic_frolic
(47,342 posts)I get the inside scoop that I'd likely never figure out. And there's a book. News to me, thanks!
Docreed2003
(17,852 posts)TexasBushwhacker
(20,713 posts)It isn't ranked #1. This is a pretty good list.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/mar/26/tom-hanks-25-best-performances-ranked
It didn't include "That Thing You Do" because he only played a supporting role, but it was his first shot at writing and directing a feature film. I loved it. It really captured the early 60s.
LessAspin
(1,419 posts)Last edited Sun Jul 18, 2021, 09:16 PM - Edit history (1)
That seditious right wing meetup May 29 in Dallas brought to mind the Tom Hanks-Julia Roberts meeting in Texas to finance Charlie Wilson's War..
I can't help but imagine that there are folks like that Julia Roberts character ready and willing to support Michael Flynn's proposed coup d'état...
Link to tweet
Thanks for posting because I've been meaning to post about those parallels.