Charlie Wilson's War - trailer out!

[Monotreme]

Strange to see that nobody seems to have made a thread about this, even though I remember seeing at least a few other people on these boards who are as stoked about it as I am. I've been saying this from the beginning, along with the Coen's work, PT Anderson, Sweeney Todd and The Golden Compass, Charlie Wilson's War is one of the most anticipated releases of the year for me - and we didn't even get to see any of it up until now. So after the ambivalent trailers we got for films such as Lions for Lambs and In The Valley of Elah, I give you the very solid trailer for Mike Nichols' latest, Charlie Wilson's War:

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809774261/video/4486824

I can say for myself that I consider my excitement for this movie justified. The trailer is just great; great pace, great soundtrack, great portrayal of the story. Hanks, Roberts and Hoffman look like they're in top form, the story is interesting, and Mike Nichols is, of course, a master veteran director. I'm very much looking forward to this - hopefully we'll be able to see a poster sometime soon as well!

[therealjohng]

Man, it looks fucking terrible. That is an Oscar contender? Wow. Just bad.

[Tuukka]

It was suprisingly funny, and all the acting seems great, particularly Hanks who is hilarious. You can count me in.

[Monotreme]

It was suprisingly funny, and all the acting seems great, particularly Hanks who is hilarious. You can count me in.

Hanks does have a wonderful ability to bring about a kind of sly hilarity about his characters. This looks like a really fun one to watch him play. I disagree with therealjohng, I think this looks wonderfully entertaining and cynically funny while of course being historically fascinating and dramatic.

[Cronos]

Aside from Julia Roberts being in it, looks pretty good to me.

[Katsumoto]

Aside from Julia Roberts being in it, looks pretty good to me.

Read my mind. She looks out of place. Tom Hanks is great and Hoffman is the tits. I wasn't blown away by the trailer, but I'll give it a shot.

[corran horn]

Spot on, once more Monotreme. This too has been my most anticipated release of all 2007. It seems almost tailor-made for me, combining one of my favorite actors (Tom Hanks) with one of my greatest interests (politics). Hanks is back in his element and looks as great as ever. Hoffman, IMO, was awarded an Oscar too early; this is the role he was made for. Whoever was picked to play Pakistani dicator Muhammad Zia (the Middle Eastern man with the big mustache) is a dead ringer for the late ruler.

As for Roberts, I attribute any discomfort to the role she plays: Joanne Herring, noted Texas socialite and right-wing patroness...and yes, Joanne does sport that hideous hairdo.

Special props must also be given to Universal for releasing a number of promising films this year: Bourne Ultimatum, American Gangster, and Charlie Wilson's War. In addition, I'd like to give a shout out to Participant Productions for adding yet another work to their impressive social-conscience repertoir (which also Syriana, GN&GL, Inconvenient Truth, and The Kite Runner). Keep on making such worthwhile films, PP, and show everyone else how such movies SHOULD be made.

[therealjohng]

Once again, John, I'm going to STRONGLY disagree with you on this. I thought it was very well done. Having read the book, I think Hanks and Hoffman nailed it. What didn't you like about it?


It looks too fun and it feels like it's trying to be important. I don't know, didn't get a good vibe from it.

[dennisv]

Only reason I'll be seeing this is the man Hoffman himself.

[Rick-James]

Looks good. Hanks is back at what he does best. Hoffman looks fantasic as ever. Julia Roberts is... well she still sucks.

Mike Nichols is great. I'm there.

[thedudeman69]

Looks stupid to me. That trailer was underwhelming

[bigred760]

I liked the trailer; looks like a pretty sweet political satire.

[ilovemovies]

I was greatly looking forward to this but it's somehow different than I was expecting. I won't lie. I'm kind of disappointed and I think I'm going to have to lower my expectations for this movie. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't look bad. Infact, it looks pretty good and I will say after seeing the trailer a couple of times, it's starting to grow on me. But it doesn't look like to me that it'll be an oscar contender. It doesn't look like it'll be one of the best movies of the year. I guess I was hoping for something amazing looking and instead I got something that looks enjoyable but nothing really special.

[Boner X-Ray]

This totally looks like the regular Christmas movie for adults that I would go to with my grandparents if they were in town.

Doesn't look half-bad.

[corran horn]

I was greatly looking forward to this but it's somehow different than I was expecting. I won't lie. I'm kind of disappointed and I think I'm going to have to lower my expectations for this movie. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't look bad. Infact, it looks pretty good and I will say after seeing the trailer a couple of times, it's starting to grow on me. But it doesn't look like to me that it'll be an oscar contender. It doesn't look like it'll be one of the best movies of the year. I guess I was hoping for something amazing looking and instead I got something that looks enjoyable but nothing really special.

I have to disagree with you on this. CWW definitely looks like one of the year's best to me, and I think it stands a good chance when it comes to award noms. I have to ask: what exactly were you expecting? When I first heard about this project, I wasn't sure what form it would take (satire? gritty drama?). When I read the book and got introduced to this eccentric cast of characters and found out that Mike Nichols had directed 2 previous political movies (Catch 22, Primary Colors), I realized that it would be a satire. Watch the trailer a couple more times, and see if that helps.

[corran horn]

I was greatly looking forward to this but it's somehow different than I was expecting. I won't lie. I'm kind of disappointed and I think I'm going to have to lower my expectations for this movie. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't look bad. Infact, it looks pretty good and I will say after seeing the trailer a couple of times, it's starting to grow on me. But it doesn't look like to me that it'll be an oscar contender. It doesn't look like it'll be one of the best movies of the year. I guess I was hoping for something amazing looking and instead I got something that looks enjoyable but nothing really special.

I have to disagree with you on this. CWW definitely looks like one of the year's best to me, and I think it stands a good chance when it comes to award noms. I have to ask: what exactly were you expecting? When I first heard about this project, I wasn't sure what form it would take (satire? gritty drama?). When I read the book and got introduced to this eccentric cast of characters and found out that Mike Nichols had directed 2 previous political movies (Catch 22, Primary Colors), I realized that it would be a satire. Watch the trailer a couple more times, and see if that helps.;)

[Monotreme]

Alright! Glad to see another supporter who is as hyped about this film as I am. Welcome to the (very exclusive) club, corran horn! I haven't read anything about the actual story behind this film, but I love the satirical, cynical tone the trailer conveys, and also the soundtrack, of course. Tom Hanks still has a lot more chin than he used to, though, ever since The Da Vinci Code. The look doesn't suit you, Tom! And I actually like Julia Roberts. Sure, most of her film decisions are eh, but she was amazing as Erin Brokovich, and she was great in Mike Nichols' Closer, so I expect her to be more than tolerable.

[Scarfather]

What the fuck was that?

[Le_Big_Mac]

I watched this at the theater seeing Michael Clayton today. It might be good, but the trailer is nothing special. Usually, you can tell how original or great a movie will be by the amount of pointless use of obligatory well-known or popular music in the trailer.

[hoojib127]

Most surprising thing in the trailer: Prudia, er, Julia Roberts in a bikini. :eek:

[dman476]

Most surprising thing in the trailer: Prudia, er, Julia Roberts in a bikini. :eek:
That caught me off guard in a very positive way. ;)

The trailer looks all right though, nothing too special, but could be a fun time at the movies. I'm definitely booked.

The only outstanding negative is, of course, the fact that it looks like Lord of War... which I despise.

[corran horn]

I watched this at the theater seeing Michael Clayton today. It might be good, but the trailer is nothing special. Usually, you can tell how original or great a movie will be by the amount of pointless use of obligatory well-known or popular music in the trailer.

I actually thought the use of Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" was a pretty good choice, given the subject matter. Secondly, they're probably targeting baby-boomers with that music, and seeing as how they make up (I'm just guessing) a very large percentage of Hanks' and Roberts' fan-base. This is not to say that younger viewers won't be attracted (as Monotreme and I demonstrate;)).

Slightly off-topic: this trailer reminded me of all the good music and artists that came out before I was born and how everything since (exceptions for older artists still recording) has really sucked.

[corran horn]

That caught me off guard in a very positive way. ;)

The trailer looks all right though, nothing too special, but could be a fun time at the movies. I'm definitely booked.

The only outstanding negative is, of course, the fact that it looks like Lord of War... which I despise.

Having never seen Lord of War--didn't interest me and the reviews suggested I find better use of my time, I can't comment on any similarities. Consider this what Lord of War could/should have been, with a good director (Mike Nichols), screenwriter (Aaron Sorkin from the West Wing and A Few Good Men), and cast (Roberts, Hanks, Hoffman, etc). BTW, I noticed in the cast list that Ned Beatty (Otis!) is in this. I still remember his character's speech from Network: "You have meddled with the forces of NATURE Mr Beale, and you must ATONE!"

BTW, I suggest anyone interested in this story should read the book first to familiarize yourself with this unusual tale. It's a little slow in parts but is well worth the effort.

Since no one else has mentioned it, I will: nearly everything in this movie actually happened (some characters have been changed, but only a few). The real Charlie Wilson is still alive and is recovering from a recent surgery. Joanne Herring, I believe, is still around. Sadly, author George Crile and Gust Avrakotos (PSH's character) are no longer with us, so they'll never get a chance to see this:(

[SpikeDurden]

This totally looks like the regular Christmas movie for adults that I would go to with my grandparents if they were in town.

Doesn't look half-bad.

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean by this. I'm getting a really warm vibe from this, in a good way. I think its going to be great.

Aaron Sorkin, people. Aaron. Sorkin.

[Le_Big_Mac]

I actually thought the use of Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" was a pretty good choice, given the subject matter. Secondly, they're probably targeting baby-boomers with that music, and seeing as how they make up (I'm just guessing) a very large percentage of Hanks' and Roberts' fan-base. This is not to say that younger viewers won't be attracted (as Monotreme and I demonstrate;)).

I don't think the actual use of classic rock/pop/etc. necessarily means anything. The fact is it fits better than the majority of modern music. I guess that's explained by how so much contemporary music is "alternative" or popular, most fitting under the latter category hardly being music.

[yorrick brown]

whats the music at the start of the trailer?.


looks good.


the real charlie wilson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Wilson_%28politician%29

[JJFlamingo]

I worked on an indie film with Chris Dedham, who has a supporting role in this. One of the coolest fucking guys ever. Hope he does good...

[corran horn]

Aaron Sorkin, people. Aaron. Sorkin.

In his first movie screenplay since...American President in 1997?:confused:

[ilovemovies]

In his first movie screenplay since...American President in 1997?:confused:

American President is actually 1995.

[Digifruitella]

yeah, let's make a movie about how good ol' Charlie Wilson supplied the taliban with weapons to fight the "bad guys" and ironically these are the same weapons this fucker supplied them with to kill your soldiers out there post Sept. 11 attacks. yippie, I wonder what the ending is gonna be like of this flick.

Not interested even with Tom Hanks in it

[APzombie]

If you look at the scene in the jacuzzi the girls are obviously topless, i imagine their breasts could be seen through the water because there are really distracting photoshoped bubbles around the breasts of the one in the middle.

[corran horn]

yeah, let's make a movie about how good ol' Charlie Wilson supplied the taliban with weapons to fight the "bad guys" and ironically these are the same weapons this fucker supplied them with to kill your soldiers out there post Sept. 11 attacks. yippie, I wonder what the ending is gonna be like of this flick.

Not interested even with Tom Hanks in it

This is not entirely true. Wilson merely provided the funding and the technology, he had no say in who the weapons went to. THAT was left to the Pakistani intelligence service (ISI). Secondly, Wilson (and I believe Avrakotos) both supported a "Marshall Plan" to rebuild Afghanistan after the Soviets and the puppet government were driven out. However, the US showed no interest in doing so, and simply let the various tribes fight each other. Wilson himself said that, although his strategy was successful, the CIA and State Dept "f***ed up the endgame" by letting everything go to pot.

As for the ending, I believe there's a script available online--that'd be the best way to find out the ending.

[yorrick brown]

Universal’s Charlie Wilson’s War starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts has found themselves doing expensive re-shoots just 8 weeks away from its release date!


Charlie Wilson's War is a 2007 drama film about Democratic Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson, who conspired with a CIA officer named Gust Avrakotos to launch an operation to help the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It is based on a 2003 book of the same title by George Crile. The film stars Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Industry chatter says this film is in a bit of trouble, according to a source working on the film, Charlie Wilson’s has been doing re-shoots as late as last week. Not only that, the said re-shoots have a price tag upwards of $30 million.

With recent box office failure of another political thriller, New Line Cinema’s Rendition, you have to wonder if Universal is getting cold feet about releasing this film in a couple of months.

Re-shoots on films are pretty much the norm nowadays, with that said, I’ve never heard of any re-shoots costing anywhere near $30 million.

Charlie Wilson’s War opens December 25th, 2007.

[corran horn]

Actually, Yorrick, that was just a rumour and was disproven by Universal. The only reshoot they did was months ago in Morrocco b/c of a sandstorm, and that was completed quickly and covered by insurance.

[yorrick brown]

Actually, Yorrick, that was just a rumour and was disproven by Universal. The only reshoot they did was months ago in Morrocco b/c of a sandstorm, and that was completed quickly and covered by insurance.


thank god for that.

it looks good the poster does not .