Charlie Wilson's War

[NewYorkDragons80]

I read the book about a year ago and I am fucking stoked about this flick. Crile presented countless fascinating personalities, not least of which were Wilson and Avrakotos and highlighted the blue-blooded/red-blooded divide in the CIA. This was a brilliant book and I'm glad Tom Hanks made it to ensure this story was properly brought to life. I know the 21st has a few interesting movies coming up, but I implore everybody to check this one out. What does Mojo think of this?

[Fallon]

Watching the commercials, Julia Roberts dumb face and laugh have really turned me off. But it does seem like a cool story.

[PapaBear]

Watching the commercials, Julia Roberts dumb face and laugh have really turned me off. But it does seem like a cool story.
Are they going to be talking about how her laugh was real, like they did with Pretty Woman. That story always annoyed me. Oh, wow. She laughs for real.

[Fallon]

Are they going to be talking about how her laugh was real, like they did with Pretty Woman. That story always annoyed me. Oh, wow. She laughs for real.

Then she's a shitty actress!!

[NewYorkDragons80]

Watching the commercials, Julia Roberts dumb face and laugh have really turned me off. But it does seem like a cool story.
This is the embodiment of why people study history. The Afghan campaign is half the story. Charlie Wilson is a larger than life figure and I'm not sure exactly what anecdotes will make the movie, but I strongly urge you to read the book to understand what an incredible guy he was and the fascinating lives led by the rest of the characters who brought down the Russkies

[jauble]

The True Story of Charlie Wilson airs Saturday 12/22 on the history channel

[TheMojoPin]

Love the book...I'm very wary of this film. The trailers seem to be kind of propping Wilson up into a type of heroic figure. The write-ups say it is a satire, and hopefully it is. To try and twist this into a heroi story would not be cool.

[NewYorkDragons80]

To try and twist this into a heroi story would not be cool.
I'm not saying we had a flawless Afghan policy, but the fact is it helped bring down the Soviet Union and win the Cold War. The abandonment of Afghanistan afterwards is indefensible, but it happened to Wilson's chagrin.

[TheMojoPin]

I'm not saying we had a flawless Afghan policy, but the fact is it helped bring down the Soviet Union and win the Cold War. The abandonment of Afghanistan afterwards is indefensible, but it happened to Wilson's chagrin.

I think I'm biased because I'm good friends with a retired Agency vet who actually had a lot to do with the CIA operations involving Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion, and he is not fond of Wilson at all. It was really fascinating reading the book and then talking to him about it.

[A.J.]

I finally saw this movie on of the legs of my recent trip to Asia. I didn't read the book but I'm familiar with story having seen the documentary on it. That said, I thought the movie was actually really well done. Phillip Seymour Hoffman was fantastic as Gust Avrakotos.

I damn near cringed when I saw Ned Beatty as Rep. Doc Long firing up the Afghan refugees by shouting "God Is Great"/"Allahu Akhbar". And the last conversation between Wilson and Avrakotos and the last subcommittee meetings left me depressed, seeing how we screwed the pooch and laid the groundwork for all the problems we have today.

[TheMojoPin]

Phillip Seymour Hoffman was fantastic as Gust Avrakotos.

I keep telling my dad that to get him to watch the flick, but he keeps refusing because he HAAAAAAATES Gust from his time with the Agency.

[A.J.]

I keep telling my dad that to get him to watch the flick, but he keeps refusing because he HAAAAAAATES Gust from his time with the Agency.

Was your Dad the guy whose office window Gust smashed?

[TheMojoPin]

Was your Dad the guy whose office window Gust smashed?

Heh, that would make a lot of sense.

He shared an office with Baer back in the early 90's, too.

Where's my dad's movie, goddammit?

[Suspect Chin]

The war is officially over (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/charlie-wilson-congressman-texas-dies-76/story?id=9800037). RIP

[Crispy123]

RIP Charlie.


Damn, these Congressmen are droppin like flies!