IMDb > Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
Charlie Wilson's War
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Charlie Wilson's War (2007) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 82 | slideshow) Videos (see all 25)
Charlie Wilson's War (2007) -- Charlie Wilson's War Trailer
Charlie Wilson's War (2007) -- Clip: Charlie tells Joanne to dial down the religion
Charlie Wilson's War (2007) -- Interview: Mike Nichols "On working with three powerhouse actors"
Charlie Wilson's War (2007) -- In this Comment from London, Simon Bates takes a look at two recent movies - "The Bucket List" and "Charlie Wilson's War" - and explains why he feels the films are a little too lighthearted.
Charlie Wilson's War (2007) -- A drama based on a Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects.
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Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   38,947 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Mike Nichols
Writers (WGA):
Aaron Sorkin (screenplay)
George Crile (book)
Contact:
View company contact information for Charlie Wilson's War on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 December 2007 (USA) more
Genre:
Biography | Drama more
Tagline:
Based on a true story. You think we could make all this up? more
Plot:
A drama based on a Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 10 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(92 articles)
Mike Nichols Has Achieved Much in His Lifetime, Says AFI
 (From FilmSchoolRejects. 12 October 2009, 11:51 AM, PDT)
Mike Nichols to Get AFI Life Achievement Honor
 (From The Wrap. 11 October 2009, 1:52 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Funny, sad, and ultimately frightening - a film that makes you both laugh and weep at the state of the world. more (241 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Tom Hanks ... Charlie Wilson

Amy Adams ... Bonnie Bach

Julia Roberts ... Joanne Herring

Philip Seymour Hoffman ... Gust Avrakotos
Terry Bozeman ... CIA Award Presenter

Brian Markinson ... Paul Brown

Jud Tylor ... Crystal Lee

Hilary Angelo ... Kelly

Cyia Batten ... Stacey
Kirby Mitchell ... Stoned Guy

Ed Regine ... Limo Driver
Daniel Eric Gold ... Donnelly

Emily Blunt ... Jane Liddle
Peter Gerety ... Larry Liddle

Wynn Everett ... Receptionist - Charlie's Angels
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for strong language, nudity/sexual content and some drug use.
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
102 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Dari | Arabic | Russian
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital
Certification:
Ireland:15A | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Australia:M | Netherlands:12 | Germany:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-11 | USA:R (certificate #44037) | Argentina:13 | Sweden:7 | Hong Kong:IIB | UK:15 | Malaysia:18PL | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Spain:13 | Portugal:M/12 | New Zealand:M | Iceland:12 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating)
Filming Locations:
Downey Studios - 12214 Lakewood Boulevard, Downey, California, USA more
Company:
Universal Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Towards the end of the movie, Charlie Wilson is presented with one of the Stingers he helped provide to the Afghanis. In an interview, the real Charlie Wilson said the Stinger is one of his most prized possessions, kept in "a very honored spot in my home." more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): As Charlie reads the Congressional newswire about Kabul, Bonnie Bach says Kabul is in "Uzbekistan." In 1980, it was Uzbek SSR. Uzbekistan did not exist until the Soviet Union broke up in 1991. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
CIA Award Presenter: The defeat and break up of the Soviet empire, culminating in the crumbing of the Berlin wall, is one of the great events of world history. There were many heros in this battle, but to Charlie Wilson must go this special recognition. Just thirteen years ago the Soviet army appeared to be invincible...
more
Movie Connections:
References Dr. No (1962) more
Soundtrack:
STOMP more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
167 out of 242 people found the following comment useful.
Funny, sad, and ultimately frightening - a film that makes you both laugh and weep at the state of the world., 15 December 2007
9/10
Author: flechette from United Kingdom

Mike Nichols in finest form. I was not a fan of "Closer", so it's refreshing to see him again right back on top with this comedy set in the darkest of circumstances. Just one slip in tone could have wrecked this compelling picture but Nichols and his very strong A-list cast never put a foot wrong in this biopic of a deeply flawed but utterly compelling Congressman.

Philip Seymour Hoffman as usual is scintillating and brilliant - here playing a damaged but ultra-smart CIA manipulator, and it is in the exchanges between Hanks and Hoffman's characters where the comedy soars. Rarely is movie humour laugh-out loud and also smart... This hits the spot time after time with a biting satirical edge that makes you both laugh and weep at the state of the world (often simultaneously).

One other major plus is the length of the picture. The film is based on George Crile's fat book of the same title. The temptation for screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (his claim to fame is "The West Wing") must have been to make a fat movie, but what we get is a breath-taking 90 odd minutes of great story with sweeping implications.

This film deserves to be seen and to be recognized for finding an extraordinary balance between the darkest of dark subject matter and the lightness of touch of it's sparkling witty script - even if it does flunk the obvious link between the help that Herring and Wilson provide and the ultimate consequences (9/11).

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more (241 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
9/11 should have been the ending vescalant
Is Charlie Wilson a hero? Educate me, please dgioia-1
Al Qaeda's origins ravinder-chaudhary
At the risk of being controversial therollerkings
Afghanistan and Iraq claudio_in_uk
Am I the only one that doesn't think that Charlie is a hero emperorlastone
more

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