Movie Theater Charlie Wilson's War

[Sean the Nailer]

I don't know how I didn't know about this at all. Looking back, my own life was quite chaotic when this originally came out. Somebody here was saying something about this, not long ago. So I had to check it out.

Holy Shit, what a movie! Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Phillip Seymour Hoffman. They did it well.

 

[theLBC]

i thought it was decent with a more realistic view of how decisions are made by our government, and the widespread incompetence therein.

 

[MtnCreek]

Not a fan of Julia Roberts but the rest of the girls in that movie were smoking hot.

 

[E. Bryant]

Good movie. I've previously recommend George Criles' book (the basis for the movie); it's a fairly quick read, but goes into more detail about how Michael Vickers decided what weapons to acquire, the material and training "pipeline", and the weird relationship between the various countries involved (like how the Saudis were providing funding to buy weapons from the Israelis). Given the short runtime of the movie, I wish they would have taken a few minutes to provide additional additional details, but I get why someone would have decided to keep the dry stuff out of a Hollywood blockbuster.

The whole thing is a hell of a read on global politics, logistics, human nature, guerrilla warfare, and the law of unintended consequences.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Movie is good. Book is 10x better. I met him in 1993 and had no idea about any of this until the book came out.

Incredible story.

He kept a stinger body in his office on Capitol Hill!

Sirhr

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Good movie. I've previously recommend George Criles' book (the basis for the movie); it's a fairly quick read, but goes into more detail about how Michael Vickers decided what weapons to acquire, the material and training "pipeline", and the weird relationship between the various countries involved (like how the Saudis were providing funding to buy weapons from the Israelis). Given the short runtime of the movie, I wish they would have taken a few minutes to provide additional additional details, but I get why someone would have decided to keep the dry stuff out of a Hollywood blockbuster.

The whole thing is a hell of a read on global politics, logistics, human nature, guerrilla warfare, and the law of unintended consequences.

Vickers is still around and a real power broker in defense circles.

Quit the agency about 1990 when the Afghan program was on autopilot. Knew he would never get another job like he had and that agency “Oldsters” were going to have knives out for the young upstart.

You are right about book... amazing read and far better than the movie. Which was still pretty good!

Sirhr

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

There is also a documentary made by the History Channel that follows actual events. The movie is good, the documentary’s better, if one enjoys history over drama.

Of course, this documentary was made when the History Channel featured history and not long series about people making expensive hand made knives that will never be used to cut anything.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Of course, this documentary was made when the History Channel featured history and not long series about people making expensive hand made knives that will never be used to cut anything.

^^^ So on point...

But....

EEET will Keeeelll...

Arghhhhhhhh.... that crap is not history.

Sirhr

 

[roostercogburn98]

^^^^^its the history of America dying because they quit teaching real history

 

[Steel head]

I really liked that movie.
Best part?
Easy!
This!

 

[SalomonQST99]

I really liked that movie.
Best part?
Easy!
This!
View attachment 7631675

"I can teach them to type, but I can't teach them to grow tits."

 

[Moose]

Really enjoyed the movie.

 

[Charger442]

Always an enjoyable movie. The re-watchability index is very high on that one. Reminds me how much i liked Seymor-Hoffman as an actor. He was so great in everything from Lebowski to Charlie Wilson's War to Pirate Radio.

 

[EddieNFL]

Movie is good. Book is 10x better.

Sirhr

Can't think of an instance that isn't true.

 

[Charger442]

Can't think of an instance that isn't true.

Possibly "No Country for Old Men" and "Starship Troopers"

 

[VSP968]

Let’s not forget the nearly naked Emily Blunt (as Jane) prancing around in Charlie’s apartment….

 

[EddieNFL]

Possibly "No Country for Old Men" and "Starship Troopers"

Never read or saw either.

 

[hankpac]

The book was better. Way better.