Mar 21, 2008
One of 2007’s films on DVD: Charlie Wilson’s War
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Misguided political satire
by Mark Schumann
Father of Three
Political satire is a most challenging movie form. On one hand, the film must have a firm enough grounding in a seeming reality that it can be believed. But, to avoid taking itself too seriously, it must consistently maintain a tongue in cheek so we always know it’s all in great fun. Only a few times in recent years have filmmakers hit the right balance — such as in the lovely
Dave and the hysterical
Wag the Dog. Too often the results are heavy handed or simply too far fetched to be considered.
Few films of the recent award season try as hard and accomplish so little as
Charlie Wilson’s War. Director Mike Nichols, a brilliant creator with such masterpiece credits as
The Graduate and
Working Girl, seems undermined by an uncertain script by Aaron Sorkin and incomplete star performances from Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. Only when Phillip Seymour Hoffman appears on screen does the film offer a bite. But that’s not enough to sustain the entire movie.
The story, a watered-down telling of actual events, introduces us to a hard-drinking Texas congressman who decides to cure all of the world’s ills by trying to single-handedly defeat the Russians in Afghanistan. Never mind the official dealings of state, he simply gets things done, and this is no exception. No grass grows under this man’s feet and anyone who gets in his way is simply shuffled away. Charlie Wilson is intent on creating history no matter the outrageous approach.
Rumor is that the script, a disjointed collection of vignettes rather than a cohesive narrative, underwent serious revision when the filmmakers had trouble securing approval from some of the actual people portrayed. Whether or not that’s true is incidental; the problem here is in the basic construction of the story. The hero is revealed in an unattractive way, the tension builds in an unbelievable way, and the resolution quickly occurs in an unrealistic way. Plus, the film never seems to find its tone or rhythm. Nichols seems uncertain whether he is making a comedy or a drama and the performers, outside of Phillip Seymour Hoffman and the lovely Amy Adams, simply look confused.
Tom Hanks’ career is a mystery. This excellent actor, who could simply do no wrong in the 1990s, simply seems to make missteps in recent years. Not since his supporting role in
Catch Me If You Can a few years has he looked comfortable on screen. He was totally miscast in
The Lady Killers, dreadfully dull in
The Da Vinci Code and never can find his character this time around. Perhaps, as an actor, he isn’t aging well; perhaps, as an actor, he simply can’t play negative characters; perhaps, as an audience, we are simply getting tired of him. But at least he tries. Julia Roberts, on the other hand, simply phones in another bland performance. Since winning her Oscar for
Erin Brokovich she has appeared less and less interested in every film. And nothing here captures her imagination or our interest.
Nichols is, of course, a master craftsman, and the film looks beautiful. And Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams should probably be brought into every film. They are that good. But when a story is this watered down, and the lead performances this disappointing, even the best supporting players can’t save the film.
Charlie Wilson’s War may have worked on paper but, on film, it’s a mess.
Note to Parents: Your kids will likely have little interest in the film. And that’s just as well. A few sequences may embarrass parents — with the references to partying and sex — and, overall, the film has a decidedly adult tone. But it’s actually difficult to imagine why your children would want to see it. There’s nothing much here that will keep their interest. The film is rated R.
Film Nutritional Value:
Charlie Wilson’s War
* Content: Low. What could have been an interesting take on a unique chapter in recent history is so watered down that any punch is lost in translation.
* Entertainment: Medium. Only when sterling supporting players Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams grace the screen does the film come to life.
* Message: Low. There’s not much here other than “alcohol and drugs can solve the world’s problems.”
* Relevance: Medium. Had the film been willing to take chances it could have had a real bite on today’s headlines. But the compromises and the seams show.
* Opportunity for Dialogue: Low. The lack of substance reduces the opportunity to discuss. Skip this one.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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