Posted on 12/21/2007 7:32:45 PM PST by flattorney
Produced by Wild Eyes Prods. Executive producers, Carl H. Lindahl, David Keane; producers, Ryan Spyker, Aaron Cowden; director, Keane; writers, Bowden, Terrence Henry. Narrator: Bill Lloyd. Editor, Justin Inda; music, Michael Plowman. Running time: 120 Min.
“Charlie Wilson’s War” (Wide Release Theater Movie)
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Adaptation, Biopic and War
Running Time: 1 hr. 37 min.
Release Date: December 21st, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for strong language, nudity/sexual content and some drug use.
Distributors: Universal Pictures Distribution
Production Co.: Icarus Productions, Participant Productions, Relativity Media, Playtone
Studios: Universal Pictures
Filming Locations: Morocco
Los Angeles, California USA
Produced in: United States
- - Based on the true story of how Charlie Wilson, an alcoholic womanizer and Texas congressman, persuaded the CIA to train and arm resistance fighters in Afghanistan to fend off the Soviet Union. With the help of rogue CIA agent, Gust Avrakotos, the two men supplied money, training and a team of military experts that turned the ill-equipped Afghan freedom-fighters into a force that brought the Red Army to a stalemate and set the stage for conflicts in the Middle East that still rage to this day.
Reviews and additional movie information:
Movie Review Query Engine
Internet Movie Database
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Rotten Tomatoes
Book: Charlie Wilson's War:
The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press (April 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0871138549
ISBN-13: 978-0871138545
------
PaperBack – 550 pages
Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Pub. Date: April 2004
ISBN-13: 9780802141248
Posted for FlAttorney by TAB
From Calpernia’s link:
Gust Avrakotos, from Aliquippa, PA, just northeast of Pittsburgh.
bump
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2005/12/26/gust_avrakotos_67_led_cias_arming_of_afghan_mujahideen_against_soviets/
Gust Avrakotos, 67; led CIA’s arming of Afghan mujahideen against Soviets
Created a very, very large blackmarket of our weapons. Some of which were still being chased down. Many of these monies were also funneled to fund Sheik Rahman, mastermind of the WTC ‘93.
Merry Christmas, Calpernia-
Additionally, I would add that regarding your opinion that Abscam is the stepping stone to Able Danger:
When one looks at the parallel to the timeline of the publication of George Criles’ (U.S. Marine Corps Reservist) book, Tom Hanks procurement of the movie rights, and production of the movie,
and
looks at the timeline of murtha’s behavior concerning his remarks about the war and the blood thirsty Marines
one just wants to kick some ass.
http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=24234
Ass kick bump
Having read the book and seen the film you would be wrong.
Yeah, you’re right this couldn’t have happened to people from any other State, but Texas.
Recon Dad
Google Joanna Herring and see what see looks like. I did it right after seeing the film and looked at the pictures of her in the book. She is really looks a lot like her. Last night History channel had her on and even after all the years that have past you can see why the picked Roberts.
Perfect review. You are going to read the book twice, I did. The build up and machinations that take place to make this all possible make it a great read.
This was well document in the book and Crile’s take was that they voters knew about Charlie but he was like the son you could always forgive no matter what.
A flawed man can have one redeeming event in his life and in Charlie’s it was Afghanistan. In one thing in his life he can say “I made a difference”.
Oh I loved it, you and I are on one of the other threads about the movie together. Even handed and entertaining.
Oh, the USA is good at the abandonment thing. We did the same thing to South Vietnam. We left them to die and rot under communism. Thanks to the Marxist Dimocrats in the Peoples Congress.
Well in South Vietnam we lost, can’t really blame us for abandoning a lost battlefield. But we do have a history of a firm handshake and walking out the door once we’ve gotten what we want out of another country. The US is definitely not the kind of guy who makes breakfast the next morning. And I think that’s a good discussion to have right now while we’re in Iraq, everybody whose complaining we should flee Iraq (and Afghanistan) is basically saying we should do now what we did in 1989, and the need to be reminded of just how well that worked.
Thanks for the ping.
The book was great. I’ll probably see the film.
10/03/07: Ex-Rep. Charlie Wilson leaving hospital after Heart Transplant
# Retired U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson is leaving a Houston hospital ten days after a successful heart transplant. The 74-year-old Wilson will be discharged from The Methodist Hospital on Thursday. Wilson received a heart from a donor in Kansas on September 24. Wilson, who represented Texas' 2nd district in the House from 1973 to 1996, is the subject of an upcoming movie starring Tom Hanks. The film "Charlie Wilson's War" is scheduled for Christmas release, is about Wilson's efforts to arm Afghani mujahedeen during their war against the Soviet Union. Wilson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, helped secure money for weapons, including Stinger missiles. Wilson was known as "Good Time Charlie" when he was in Washington.
June 2003: Charlie Did IT
# Comprehensive article with one section written by Charlie Wilson’s War book author George Crile
12/20/07: Houston Socialite talks "Charlie Wilson's War"
- Video interview by local ABC News with Joanne Herring (78 y.o.)
12/20/07: Article and video interview with Joanne Herring: Houston Socialite's Battle against Communism turned into movie - Local CBS News interview
4/13/07 - Houston Chronicle: Joanne Herring has lots to say on many subjects. Just listen:
12/11/07 Houston Chronicle: Charlie Wilson's War makes a Texas-size debut
Local Houston NBC News Review: "Charlie Wilson's War a Big Winner (4 of 4 Stars)
Houston Chronicle CWW Review: "Stops 30 minutes Shy of Greatness" (3 or 4 Stars)
Charlie Wilson's War Official Movie Website
Women like Joanne pick the men, they don’t pick her. She got what she wanted from Charlie Wilson and that was that. As to Charlie during the time they were together the following quote comes to mind - “That guy's soft. Look in his face. The booze and the concha (cocaine) tell him what to do.” – Tony Montana, Scarface (1983). The hot tub scene in the movie reminded me of Tom ‘Hot Tub’ DeLay during his younger wild partying political days in Houston and Austin. At least Tom stop the boozing and womanizing when he became very religious, Charlie never did. Tom looks and acts fantastic at 60. I think Ms. Herring should become an honorary FReeper! and the GOP should turn her loose against Hillary Clinton. - NancyTx
@ @ @
Here you go nancytx. I got it all fixed up for you. Let me know if it’s not alright. Thank you very much for all your time and input. Have a wonderful holidays! – TAB
I hope someone is telling the true story, because Hollywood damn sure won’t.
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