Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Universal
EAN: 0025195004848
Format: Widescreen, NTSC
Label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Universal Studios
Region Code: 1
Release Date: April 22, 2008
Running Time: 102 minutes
Sales Rank: 911
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: 2007

---

Related Items:

• The Bucket List
• There Will Be Blood
• Juno (Single-Disc Edition)
• Atonement (Widescreen Edition)
• 27 Dresses (Widescreen Edition)
• see more

---

Editorial Review:

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.

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




Beyond Charlie Wilson's War on DVD

More Tom Hanks

Films by Mike Nichols

More Julia Roberts

Stills from Charlie Wilson's War (Click for larger image)

















Rating: - Entertaining movie is worth owning
In a very entertaining way, this movie manages to educate the viewer on America's first war in Afghanistan. Indeed, the historical/political treatment is not heavy handed, but makes this more than just an entertaining movie about a colorful Congressman (and he is colorful). If you like movies that have some historical connection, but want something that's still light enough to show just for entertainment value, this movie is perfect. And, of course, Tom Hanks does a great job.

---

Rating: - Surprisingly good
I didn't think this would be anywhere near as enjoyable as it is. I really liked it, and found it to be surprisingly good.

---

Rating: - Afganistan before it became fashionable
This film is an absolute genious of screenwriting, directing and acting. Charlie Wilson is an obscure congressman from Texas whose office is saturated with young female assistants seemingly ditzy but highly loyal to him; he is well connected with people of (financial) means and powerul social network. Charlie is a smart goofball - man who is astute is ways of holding (his political) power, but who also likes to get his share of fun: drugs, girls and a good glass of drink. When Charlie's lover, ... Read More

---

Rating: - A fresh look at that other Afganistan fracas.
Not as funny as advertised - not a belly laugh anywhere - and a bit heavy on the eff word. I rate it at 5 stars anyway, because it presents the U.S. 'clandestine services' role in thwarting the Soviet invasion, and how important that role was. It does a fair job with the casual decadence of the Washington Scene too, and mitigates it with humor. None of the acting roles are particularly demanding, but they are well done.

---

Rating: - Thoroughly entertaining yet disturbing
More than ever it has been interesting to read the very polarized reviews of this movie. It seems many reviewers are not focusing their reviews on the movie itself but more on the politics and how it fits with their own ultra liberal or neo conservative views.

I for one find it very concerning to learn how in a democracy one very flawed character as Wilson can more or less singlehandedly (only with a lot of cash from a pro faith wealthy lobbyist) can swing the US policy towards Afghanistan. ... Read More

---

Browse for similar items by category:

• Drama - Genres - DVD - Video - General
• ( B ) - Actors & Actresses - Custom Stores - Specialty Stores - DVD - Video - Beatty, Ned
• ( H ) - Actors & Actresses - Custom Stores - Specialty Stores - DVD - Video - Hanks, Tom
• ( H ) - Actors & Actresses - Custom Stores - Specialty Stores - DVD - Video - Hoffman, Philip S
• ( H ) - Actors & Actresses - Custom Stores - Specialty Stores - DVD - Video - Hoffman, Phillip Seymour