Charlie Wilson's War

Name: Charlie Wilson's War
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: December 21, 2007
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 67
Cast: Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Hanks

2007

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 166 Ratings

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6.7

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6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 166 Ratings

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Charlie Wilson's War

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: December 21, 2007 | R

Starring: Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Hanks

Summary: Charlie Wilson's War is the true story of how a playboy congressman, a renegade CIA agent, and a beautiful Houston socialite joined forces to lead the largest and most successful covert operation in history. Their efforts contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, with consequences that reverberate throughoutCharlie Wilson's War is the true story of how a playboy congressman, a renegade CIA agent, and a beautiful Houston socialite joined forces to lead the largest and most successful covert operation in history. Their efforts contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, with consequences that reverberate throughout the world today. [Universal Studios]… Expand

Director: Mike Nichols

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 102 min

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Critic Reviews

A.O. Scott

More of a hoot than any picture dealing with the bloody, protracted fight between the Soviet Army and the Afghan mujahedeen has any right to be. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

Hanks has a good time, romping around with the assurance of a holy fool. He and Roberts seem "actorish," putting on accents and mannerisms, but they're entertaining. Hoffman is something more, a scenery-devouring force of nature irresistible as a cyclone and irreverent as a stand-up comedian at a midnight show. Read full review

Shawn Levy

You don't often hear critics gripe that a movie isn't long or explicit enough, but Sorkin and Nichols could have gone the extra lap or so to show that Wilson's saga is more than just a story of a good ol' boy accidentally pulling off a remarkable coup; it's a sobering account of the geopolitical hijinks that gave shape to our current world. Read full review

Steven Rea

Like Sorkin's D.C.-set TV series, "West Wing," his script for Charlie Wilson's War is full of rapid-fire badinage, with movers and shakers moving smart and shaking snappy as a squad of aides trot along behind, briefcases and coffee cups in tow. A decade - not to mention a war - never went by so quickly. Read full review

Peter Rainer

It's nice to watch a political movie that, for a change, isn't trying to save our souls. It's possible to have a good time with this movie while, at the same time, regretting all that it isn't. Read full review

David Ansen

Of course, hanging over this ironic tale is the deeper historical irony--that many of the "good guy" rebels Charlie is funding (and we're cheering) will become our mortal enemies...It's as if "Titanic" ended with a celebratory shipboard banquet, followed by a postscript: by the way, it sank. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Overall, Charlie Wilson's War is glib rather than witty, one of those films that comes off as being more pleased with itself than it has a right to be. It also suffers from being not all of a piece, with mismatched elements struggling to cohere. Read full review

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User Reviews

genuinerealist

Apr 21, 2022

Just a little grace note. 'Charlie Wilson's War', the book by George Crile, tells the truly incredible story of the actions of a reprobate, completely corrupt congressman who changed the world. Although the movie whitewashes Wilson (whose personal morality was much worse than shown) andJust a little grace note. 'Charlie Wilson's War', the book by George Crile, tells the truly incredible story of the actions of a reprobate, completely corrupt congressman who changed the world. Although the movie whitewashes Wilson (whose personal morality was much worse than shown) and treats the material lightly (it plays as a comedy), the history is pretty much accurate.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RichardM.

Dec 24, 2007

I loved the movie. Fast paced, funny, thought-provoking, great acting, and politically relevant. I was sorry it ended. The movie seemed to fly by.

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JeffJ.

Jan 13, 2008

First, it was funnier than I expected. I guess you shouldn't be surprised by an "expose" of what being a Congressman is like but Hanks' portrayal of the womanizing Wilson is good (although he did seem less into women than someone who hires them for their looks would be). The real First, it was funnier than I expected. I guess you shouldn't be surprised by an "expose" of what being a Congressman is like but Hanks' portrayal of the womanizing Wilson is good (although he did seem less into women than someone who hires them for their looks would be). The real prize here is Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who plays the CIA analyst that partners with Wilson to bring weapons to the Afghan mujahedeen. It's very entertaining and has no dull spots. Trying to tell a complex real-life story like this in a 2 hr movie is hard and this is the film's only weakness IMO.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TomH.

Dec 25, 2007

Very well-acted and entertaining. I am not sure how much of the movie is actual fact, but the overall story is certainly educational. This movie is also stylish and comedic in unexpected places.

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Trev29

Apr 5, 2012

All the acting was right on the target. A quick smart script that tell a fascinating story about how modern government works. Funny in many places, but knows exactly when to add the drama.

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SteveH.

Dec 24, 2007

This was a well done film but emotionally I couldn't commit to the film. When I heard the line "We want to kill Russians" it was a little weird. The downing of Russian helicopters was anti-climatic and I thought the ending was a throw in and weak attempt to even out the movie. This This was a well done film but emotionally I couldn't commit to the film. When I heard the line "We want to kill Russians" it was a little weird. The downing of Russian helicopters was anti-climatic and I thought the ending was a throw in and weak attempt to even out the movie. This movie proves, Julia Roberts can still pick her parts, Tom Hanks is a good actor and Hoffman is a great actor.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

EricB.

Dec 27, 2007

This movie takes complex historical events and simplifies them to the point of idiocy. It's pretense to historical reality is garbage. Its basically well produced piece of junk from people who get their history from comic books. Don't waste your money; nothing going for this film This movie takes complex historical events and simplifies them to the point of idiocy. It's pretense to historical reality is garbage. Its basically well produced piece of junk from people who get their history from comic books. Don't waste your money; nothing going for this film that was neither "rational" nor "inspirational", but rather demonstrates the problems with people who are specialists in acting thinking that they actually understand international politics. Don't waste your money.… Expand

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