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 |
In the early 1980s, Charlie Wilson is a womanizing US congressional representative from Texas who seemed to be in the minor leagues, except for the fact that he is a member of two major foreign policy and covert-ops committees. However, prodded by his major conservative supporter, Houston Socialite Joanne Herring, Wilson learns about the plight the people are suffering in the brutal Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. With the help of the maverick CIA agent, Gustav "Gust" Avrakotos, Wilson dedicates his canny political efforts to supply the Afghan mujahideen with the weapons and support to defeat the Soviet Union. However, Charlie Wilson eventually learns that while military victory can be had, there are other consequences and prices to that fight that are ignored to everyone's sorrow. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)
Aaron Sorking raises the same questions as Shakespeare did or does. How could they possibly know so much about the inner workings of palace life. Here like in The West Wing, Sorkin opens surprising doors that are hardly a shock but seem ton confirm our worst fears. Everything is so casual and at the same time so directly responsible for so many people's lives. A puffy Tom Hanks tells us one way or another that things can be manipulated with semi pure intentions but without weighing the consequences and Julia Roberts in a blond southern hairdo reminds us of the powers harbored in the sidelines. The subject is serious but the treatment is light, intelligent but light. Philip Seymour Hoffman, as the invisible middle man, steals every scene he is in, just like Charles Laughton did in every movie he was in.The dialogue is fast but not fast enough for us not to catch up and discover that this is not an ordinary comedy. The seemingly casual pace filled with strokes of wit and provocation grants another badge of honor in the Mike Nichol's collection.