Monday, June 02, 2008

Charlie Wilson's War

Watched Charlie Wilson's War last week... what can I say, I'm watching a lot of movies these days :)... Its an enjoyable political satire (funny, witty).

The movie makes a case (a bit simplistically) that the US action of arming the Mujahideens in the 80s may have been well-intentioned. But it also seems to suggest that because they meant well, they were right in doing them or that they were necessary (Wilson even refers to them as the "glorious" days that ended the cold war). Thats where it didn't convince me.

What I did agree with though, was the political reality of how it all ended -- the Congress was generous in doling out money for arming the anti-soviet --it made them look heroic & patriotic-- but didn't want to spend anything on re-habilitation of this war-zone once the Soviets were defeated --there was no political advantage in that.

PS: Philip-Seymour Hoffman is fantastic in the movie as an out-spoken CIA agent.

9 comments:

Parth said...

Got to see this movie. The starcast seems really powerful.

Radha said...

Parth,
Yes it is, although Julia Roberts has quite a non-role.
The clincher for me was the writer of the movie -- its the same guy who wrote West Wing (which I think was the most brilliant show ever to come on tv).

Sneha said...

Completely agree with you on Phillip S-H being an outspoken CIA agent :-)

Jayne said...

We got the DVD & I was just 'getting into' the film when it went on the blink. The nice little Chinese lady has yet to replace it!

Fighter Jet said...

I havent seen the movie..yet i can claim one thing for sure.

What u sow ..so u reap.
If the US action of 80's was glorious or anything close to admirable..they would not have suffered so much post 2000.When the motives are rotten..u have to taste ur own doings.

The biggest hypocrites on earth..US alwasy does things to furthur its own casue..and not for good of mankind/peace etc...

Unknown said...

Julia Roberts... oh la la.. must watch, at least for her :D

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

Philip-Seymour Hoffman is a great actor. Have loved him in almost all the roles i have watched him in......cant forget his stellar performance as Truman Capote........am yet to get hold of this one....have been watching a whole lot of road-trip classics....and westerns lately....for some weird reason!!! :OOO

Aathira Nair said...

I downloaded this movie just for Julia Roberts but now I am glad I did watch it :)

Ironically I was reading Kite Runner at the same time... so there was a lot of Peshwar involved

Anonymous said...

Good post.