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Wednesday 11 August 2010

Charlie Wilson’s War: Sex and Drugs and Mujahideen … 

You know, I think I’ve had an entertaining evening …

Think … ?

No, I’m positive I did … !

Now, as you’ve probably guessed, every so often I and some friends usually get together to catch a DVD.

To the point where I’m thinking that I should maybe start calling these little get-togethers a salon

Or maybe not: I think those had more French people involved, didn’t they … ?

Kevin, Adrian … ?

At any rate, you’d’ve worked out, by now, that Kevin D, Movie Night Adrian and I — joined, tonight by Kay and her partner, Rob — were all at mine, for a film.

Tonight’s … ?

Was the 2007, Mike Nichols directed film, Charlie Wilson’s War.

And, at the risk of sounding even more stumped than a very stumped person indeed, I’ve got to admit, I’m blowed if I know where to put Charlie Wilson’s War, genre-wise.

I really don’t …

Because, whilst it’s a biopic of Representative Charles Wilson’s efforts to fund a covert operation to repel the USSR from Afghanistan, it’s also a very wry piece of comedy.

With extra wryness.

And maybe a mild Satire sauce …

The film follows Representative Wilson — party guy and all round Good Ol’ Texan womaniser — on his own personal road to Damascus.

After he sees a news article on Afghan refugees fleeing their homeland in the aftermath of the Soviet invasion, he becomes determined to try and help.

Mostly, as a member of the relevant sub-commitees, by making sure that the various mujahadeen groups in the region getting both arms and funding: mostly through General Zia-ul-Haq.

‹‹‹•›››

Now, others have summed up both the film and the events it shows us.

But Charlie Wilson’s War … ?

I think I’m going to recommend this one to you.

It’s a film that, although showing us events that have been endless discussed, it does so with a sense of humour that I found keep all of us laughing out loud.

Several times.

And, in one of its closing scenes, shows Wilson asking the relevant sub-commitee why they’re only fund an Afghan school to the tune of $1, 000, 000.

When they’ve spent $100, 000, 000 on the covert war …

There’s probably a lot a body could make of that, isn’t there … ?

Several people have.

But all I can do is quote you the congressman, himself …

“These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world …
and then we fucked up the end game.”






1 comment:

  1. The overall result was depressing, but I do enjoy watching Tom Hanks in action for several hours! Even playing a southern rake!

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