Tag Archive for 'Mike Nichols'

Charlie Wilson’s War

Published
by
Chalupa
on January 6, 2008
in Based on a book, Based on a true story, Biography, Drama, History, Politics and War
. 3 Comments

Liz and I did a double-header yesterday, the first being Charlie Wilson’s War. I’m usually not really into political movies with a message, Lions for Lambs for example, but I enjoyed this one. This movie is based on the true story of a little known senator, Charlie Wilson, who got the funding for the original “War on Terror” in Afghanistan back in the 80’s. What I really enjoyed about this movie was the end where it showed funding for schools and rebuilding the society, at a mere fraction of what had been spent on weapons and munitions, being turned down because “nobody cares about Pakistan.” Pakistan wasn’t even the country Wilson was trying to get the funding for; it was Afghanistan. It points out that time and time again, the US has funded and armed one group only to find them the enemy later on down the road. Everybody is concerned about Osama Bin Laden right now - well he was one of the people fighting the Russians back in the 80’s with our money and our weapons.

I think the acting was top notch here. Tom Hanks gave a wonderful performance as usual. I know you’ve probably heard me rant about Cast Away, but that was just a fluke in my book. Julia Roberts also did a decent job. I kinda feel like she might have stepped out of the box a little with this role, at least in reference to her more recent movies that I’ve seen. It was also cool to see Amy Adams again. She was amazing in Junebug and after seeing that, I remember her from Catch Me If You Can, another Hanks film. You might have also seen her in Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny if you’re into the phenom of Jack Black and Kyle Gast. And who can not mention Philip Seymour Hoffman’s role? I was reminded a lot of his character in Punch-Drunk Love as the sofa king. He did a lot of yelling in that role, only there weren’t any redeeming characteristics.

This film is definitely a historical piece. It’s not about the 100 Year War or the pilgrims, but it’s still about a piece of history. In a way, it kind of reminded me of Blow. I think it also helps to watch films about political things at least a decade after the fact. People have had time to hear and learn about what happened apart from the media and everything else. I’d highly recommend seeing this. It has historical value as well as being very much in the present. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is even mention being assassinated in a military coup. He was the president and prime minister of Pakistan in the 70’s and 80’s. Just recently his daughter Benazir Bhutto, who also served as prime minister, was assassinated after just coming out of self-imposed exile.

Closer

Published
by
Chalupa
on June 12, 2005
in Based on a play, Drama, Independent and Romance
. 0 Comments

Saw Closer tonight. It seemed different from what I thought it would be…however, I have no idea what I was really expecting. This movie is about relationships….messed up relationships. You have two couples(Natalie Portman and Jude Law, Julia Roberts and Clive Owens) that trade partners, trade back, break up, etc. It’s a vicious cycle full of masochism, envy, greed, hate, lust, jealousy and revenge. The sad thing is I know of a couple people that have dabbled in this sort of life style and it’s horrible to have to watch the results.

While watching, I was reminded of several other movies:
Basic - I love you, I don’t love you, I’ve found somebody else, I’m leaving you, I’m back with you, etc, etc. There weren’t as many turn-arounds relationship-wise as plot twists in Basic, but I think you understand what I’m getting at if you’ve seen these movies.

Alfie - This would be partly because Jude Law stars in both movies, but when Dan’s life is pretty crappy he is no longer the cool, self-confident man we knew. He breaks down and has a good cry.

Usual Suspects - When Dan finds that name on the end I so knew it was coming. I think I guessed or thought, “it’d be cool if…” pretty much right from the start.

Scrubs and The Matrix - The end of the movie with Natalie Portman strutting her stuff down the sidewalk screamed lady-in-the-red-dress, created by Mouse, and was also strangely reminiscent of Elliot Reid when she gets her make-over and new attitude. This probably has something to do with the complete change in hair and clothes.