Movie Monday: The "Charlie Wilson's War" Edition

Not much time today; I've been busy doing CVP stuff, getting ready for Practice Interviews later this week and doing other real-life stuff.

However, I got a chance to re-watch one of my favorite movies of the last few years, "Charlie Wilson's War" (2007), directed by Mike Nichols and starring starring Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Julia Roberts. No matter which side you come down on regarding the politics of the time involved - and it is based on actual events, so there are sides to come down on - it is a great movie, very well written by Aaron Sorkin.

First, a trailer for the film, which I think relates the flavor of the film very well, and gives context:



If you get the feeling that one of the messages of the film is that the lunatics are running the asylum, I don't think you would be too far off. Sadly, I also don't think the film is too far from the truth in that respect.

I also thought that I'd leave a couple of scenes with you, rather than try to summarize the events.

First, my favorite scene from the film is this one, featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman, who is an amazing actor. This scene shows why, I think, as he completely disappears into his role as a CIA agent. He is very unhappy with his immediate boss in this scene. I do have to WARN you that there is LANGUAGE in this clip that you might not want your kids to hear:



And then there's this scene, where Hanks's character, Congressman Charlie Wilson, finds out that he is in danger of being indicted over misconduct at the same time as he is trying to make a deal with Hoffman's character to obtain funding for the Mujahideen fighting Soviet troops in Afghanistan. This scene contains my favorite quote in the film:



I mean, really. "I wasn't listening at the door. Don't be an idiot. I bugged the scotch bottle." How great a line is that?

So. See "Charlie Wilson's War" if you have the chance. I'm a sucker for movies that are serious and funny at the same time. I recommend this one highly.