Worlds Apart
Charlie Wilson's War
Review by Ross Anthony

This is a pleasant enough film, but I simply didn't see what all the awards talk is about.

It's involving, even engaging, but not on a deeply emotional level. In some ways reminiscent of "Forrest Gump," CWW maintains a cuteness in the face of serious circumstances. The humor is done well, but the serious edge feels somewhat underdeveloped, under affecting.

There are certainly moments of genius. I love the scene where Wilson alternates his meeting with Gust, the CIA agent, regarding the pending international crisis and with his group of busty secretaries about his own personal crisis. Hoffman really makes that work. In fact, though I'm not really a Hoffman fan – he's fantastic in this film.

That said, the production also sports scenes riddled with exposition, sometimes redundantly so. For instance, in the opening scene Charlie sits naked in a spa with two strippers and a playmate, in the same room people are getting high, yet the those scripting the dialogue of the film still seem obliged to tell us in words that Charlie is a bit of a party guy.

Truly, it's a B movie, but it does manage to do something of import. In a light-hearted way it displays the international ignorance many Americans boast regarding the world we live in. Hopefully, this will widen some otherwise rather narrow views. At the same time, the film tempers its own fire (more or less at the last minute) with the sobering realization that lasting solutions are not always so simply found.

Overall grade, just barely a B+.

-- Book Contest --


  • Charlie Wilson's War. Copyright © 2007.
  • Starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Ned Beatty, Om Puri.
  • Directed by Mike Nichols.
  • Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin. Based on the book by George Crile.
  • Produced by Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks at Universal/Relativity/Participant/Playtone.

Grade..........................B+ (2.5/4)


chili4 special olympians
power5 ra hforh radiop
Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Wednesday, 19-Dec-2007 11:43:06 PST