Charlie Wilson's War
Charlie Wilson's War
I'll say this first, or I'll spend the whole review comparing this with the far-inferior Lions For Lambs - this is the films that Lions For Lambs wished it had been. Where that film was full of po-faced postering, and lecturing that had neither entertainment nor enlightenment to save it, this has both in spades. Like The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford last year, we know what happens at the end of this film (and we know it's not a completely happy ending). the film starts with Charlie Wilson being given an 'Honored Colleague' award. Present are the characters we are yet to meet in the film, played by Julia Roberts (actually quite charming and looking bloody good) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (who, to use the vernacular 'pwns' every scene he is in). The film then cuts straight to the action, with Hanks' Wilson in a hot tub with several nubile young ladies. From the news report here, the film starts to move along, and it never feels sluggish, nor heavy-handed.
Nichols flits between the sort of imagery to which we have become sadly desensitised through constant news footage, and a feel-good cameraderie between Wilson and almost everybody he meets. As he says at one point, he is congressman for a state that asks little. As a result, he has lots of time to garner favours, and here Hanks' charm is at its best. You can believe that this is a man who can get things done behind the scenes through charisma alone. In this way Hanks is perfectly cast.
Hoffmann is almost a caricature, but in a wonderfully gleeful way. You can see he's having a lot of fun, and we're in on the joke. Anyone who breaks the large window to his boss' office - twice - and gives him colourful directions to where he should go, before asking a secretary on the way out, 'how was I?', is going to make a film entertaining. Hoffmann and Hanks, are as different as chalk and cheese, but go together like sweet and sour - opposite flavours, yet wonderfully mixed.
Roberts looks great, especially as she's not getting any younger. They're all Oscar winners - if that's a measure of ability - yet Roberts isn't quite in the same league as Hanks, and Hanks isn't quite in the same league as Hoffmann (despite Hanks having more little golden men). Even so, they all hold their own here, and with a great supporting cast (...Amy Adams, Shiri Appleby getting a break from her ex-co-star's dad, Ken Stott, Om Puri, Ned Beatty...), all that's needed is a good story...
And what a cracking story. Definitely in the 'so crazy, it has to be true' category, it works very well for what is ultimately a series of negotiations, wheedling, and bartering. The socio-political climate, the emotive country-allegiances, and Wilson's natural charisma all add to this story elements that, as a whole, create a satisfying, unified whole.
Hanks' casting. As I mentioned above, his charm make him perfect for this role. At the same time, his 'niceness' makes it very hard to believe he is as moral-free as he is portrayed. We never see Wilson snorting cocaine - a significant plot detail, but not a spoiler - but we hear of it. It's hard to believe however, as in scenes of merrymaking, he seems almost derisive, distracted by news reports or phone calls. He's more interesting in discussing a political meeting with an old friend than the half-naked young girl in front of him. I can't quite make the leap from nice, charming guy, to womanising, drug-taking, semi-sleazeball. Part of that is down to Hanks' image as the ubiquitous nice-guy.
There is a fair amount of, understandably, anti-Russian sentiments in the film. After all, they are the enemy. Nevertheless, at times characters are whooping and cheering to 'kill some Russians', and we as an audience are invited to join in this gleeful tone. While I agree with the overall need to dispense with the enemy, a slightly less ecstatic tone at the killing itself might have sat better with me. (That being said, there is a powerful scene where we see a couple of Russian helicopter pilots talking mundanity while shooting people. A lot of those shots play like video games which while initially uncomfortable, do show just how the Russians are shown as seeing it.)
The Acting - 8/10: All the cast listed above, and any other I missed perform really well. Ned Beatty is great! It loses marks for Hanks' half-miscasting, but other than that, top stuff.
The Look - 7/10: There's some great shots - the aforementioned helicopter attacks; a great match-cut to Amy Adams' legs, and the overall style is consistently good throughout.
The Sound - 9/10: Newton Howard's score is great. Eastern ethnic elements, while predictable, work well alongside more traditional scoring, and some inspired use of one of Bach's Passions (I want to say the St John, but it could be the St Matthew) in the helicopter scenes.
The Story - 9/10: You couldn't really make it up. And, the closing quote sums up everything that has happened since particularly aptly.
Intent of Purpose - 8/10: A cracking film, with some top drawer acting, superb soundtrack, and a great story. Not perfect, but a long way from flawed. It entertains, and it educates in equal measures. The low comedy mixes surprisingly well with the high emotive scenes, as it creates a vast difference that further accentuates the plight of the people, and increases Wilson's, and our, resolve to have something done to improve the situation. All in all, highly recommended.
Overall - 41/50, or:
82%
