Does anyone remember Charlie Wilson?

[babylonsister]

Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks in "Charlie Wilson's War"

the story of how Ronald Reagan and the neocons created Osama bin Laden.

http://www.slashfilm.com/article.php/20060111233721177

Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks. Ten years ago, it would be a perfect match for a romantic comedy. Well, now it’s time for films with an agenda. Two of the most bankable Hollywood stars may star together in a CIA drama, Charlie Wilson's War. Mike Nichols is in discussion to direct.

The script by Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing. is based on a book by a former 60 Minutes producer George Crile. It centers on the CIA's covert operation in Afghanistan to arm the mujahideen during the 1980s, when they were fighting against the Soviet Union. Many of the men armed by the CIA went on to become the Taliban's enforcers and Osama bin Laden's protectors.

The covert ops were engineered by Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), a charismatic, wheeler-dealer, liberal Texas congressman. Julia Roberts is in talks to play Joanne Herring, a beautiful Texas socialite who influenced Wilson to support the mujahideen cause.

more...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=391492&mesg_id=391492

[PDittie]

1. Good Time Charlie

He was my Congressman for awhile in the eighties. Always had a drink in his hand and blonde on on his arm. He was the first guy to arm the rebels in Afghanistan with Stingers (when they were fighting the former Soviet Union).

We all thought that had turned out well for us at the time...

[Jack_DeLeon]

2. I dont remember him...

I was too young at the time, but I did recently read that book. It was a good read.

[sonias]

3. Good timing

Should make interesting film. These are dark times and the really good films are more and more political these days. You have to educate people and movies can do that more subtlety.

I'm sure the reich wing and the reganite worshipers will be screaming bloody murder about it.

Sonia

[muse]

4. I read the book.

Great read. I can see how it would be a good movie. Lots of action and like PDittie said, the man was a character. I see someone more like George Clooney in the title role. A ladies man, a charmer.

[sonias]

5. Check out Syriana if you're a Clooney fan too

Excellent film. Reminds me a lot of the complexities of "Three Days of the Condor" film from back in the mid seventies. Syriana is about the middle east, CIA and oil. Current times, current themes, same corruption.

Sonia

[muse]

6. Saw it and loved it!

One of the best movies of last year, in my opinion. And you are right to tie it to the Charlie Wilson's War concept. Not that dissimilar. The Syriana script was interesting the way it dropped you into action that was already happening and the way different story lines were all progressing parallel to each other. Great movie.