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Charlie Wilson's War ends with a frightening foreshadowing of September 11. However well intentioned, the United States government support for "freedom fighters" around the world and especially in Afghanistan has armed groups of terrorists. The much is a fact, no matter how details of the film reflect real life scenarios. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are easy choices for a blockbuster cast. Although an actor with less of a baby face might have better filled the shoes of Charlie Wilson, the all-star casting did ensure a wide viewing audience for a movie depicting historical events that continue to reverberate in the 21st century. One of the reasons why Charlie Wilson's War is a success is that it depicts high-level decision-making and clandestine government operations with fairness. The film does slip into typical Hollywood sensationalism at times, but not enough so to make the main message meaningless.
Drawbacks of Charlie Wilson's War include its near lack of grit. The subject mater would seem to demand a rough-around -- the edges feel: the kind of cinematography and direction that resembles movies like Traffic. Instead, Mike Nichols opts for a softer, milder, more mainstream entertaining work. Julia Roberts' performance is one of the elements of the movie that contributes to its flaccid feel. Sophisticated moviegoers and those interested in the American involvement with the Afghan-Soviet war are highly likely to feel disappointed with what Nichols accomplished. Nichols turns a sober subject matter into mere entertainment, timidly slipping in some genuine political commentary. In short, Nichols plays it safe.
All things considered, Charlie Wilson's War is worth watching for its subject matter, meaning, and message. The roots of global terrorism are explored: such as the fear over Communism, the way anti-Communist forces were guerilla fighters not necessarily sympathetic to the United States, and the American government's conviction that brash interference was a good political strategy. The film does convey the ethical conundrums of global politics, and the cultural obstacles that continue to plague American foreign policy.
The actor is no longer the annoying blond character that irritates most viewers. The movie's plot is based on the real-life story of Democratic Congressman Charlie Wilson as he goes through a chain of events which renders him a true savior. Both in the movie and in real-life, Charlie Wilson is acknowledged as having played a major role in defeating the Soviet forces and liberating the oppressed people from Afghanistan. As
It evolved into a major part of the very fabric of society. Ambassadors from these provinces would report their sacral worship and elaborate religious practices when visiting Rome. Often, these rites and practices were woven into the religious system. The religious system in Rome and in the provinces in the time of Augustus, or Rex Gestae, was steeped in his achievements. He ordered the inscription of these achievements on
Even in modern times, a disproportionate number of homeless people are Vietnam vets. Obviously, the Vietnam War had an impact on American history. However, the end of the Vietnam War had an ever greater impact on the American psychology. The Vietnam War was the last open conflict against communism that the United States waged. While the war was theoretically between North Korea and South Korea, it was actually about communist-controlled
Propaganda While we may be shocked by the U.S. government's attempt to spread disinformation about the current war on terrorism, we should not be. Governments have always been less than fully forthcoming to their citizens, although they rarely admit to lying. Rather they see it as a form of propaganda, and thoroughly patriotic. Moreover, while the term "propaganda" is almost always used in a pejorative sense and as citizens of a democracy
Heroes & Anti-Heroes Chester Himes and Americo Paredes tell stories that compel readers to be concerned about structural racism in America. Though the settings are circa 1900s and 1940s, the stranglehold that bigotry has on America -- particularly in the South -- has not been eliminated. Certainly bigotry -- or the overt expression of bigotry -- has abated some, but one wonders if Himes would still conclude that society is characterized
Literature Review, Analysis and Discussion 7,500 words This section presents a review of the recent relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature concerning environmental sustainability in general and how environmental sustainability initiatives can help multinational corporations of different sizes and types achieve a competitive advantage in particular. Literature Review. According to Michalisin and Stinchfield (2010), "There is widespread consensus that human activity has had a significant impact on global climatic patterns which will have