MovieChat Forums > Charlie Wilson's War (2007) Discussion > Typically Sorkinese?

Typically Sorkinese?

posted 10 years ago by JoeSchmoe19941997
7 replies | jump to latest

I’ve been hoping to see this movie for a number of years now as the cast is incredible. However, I can’t help but notice that Aaron Sorkin wrote the script, which may or may not prevent me from watching it. I’m a big fan of the West Wing and found the fast paced dialogue, witty humor and corridor pace talking fascinating. However, when I watched the Newsroom the novelty wore off on me and I found that the dialogue was too quick to comprehend, the humor was no longer up to scratch and all of the characters spoke similarly (Like Sorkin himself). So I want to ask if the writing for Charlie Wilson’s War is typically Sorkinese (Like the West Wing and the Newsroom) or is it different to his other work?

[–] Degree7 10 years ago

I'd like to know too. I was thinking perhaps it's more like 'A Few Good Men'?

~ There is nothing more pathetic than an aging hipster.

[–] balthazar_bee 9 years ago

It is certainly within Sorkin's writing comfort zone, and yes, at times it becomes difficult to forget that he was the one wielding the pen.

It moves along at a good clip, but it fits with the tone of the piece, which is actually much more biting than I remembered, having seen it theatrically. (That may have more to do with Nichols' direction, because as someone who is only just now starting to watch the first season of The West Wing, some of it plays as rather cloying and earnest. I'm thinking specifically of the use of music, which is (a) too present, (b) too jaunty and (c) too on-the-nose.)

At the very least, Charlie Wilson's War is very funny and entertaining. Of course Hoffman is wonderful, but I'd managed to forget Hanks' crackerjack comic timing, which is put to great use. The way he answers the question about how many Jews are in his district is wonderful.

Having said that, if (like me) you have...uh..."mixed feelings" about the U.S. arming the Afghan people, particularly the fairy tale that they did it for altruistic reasons (rather than, as one analyst puts it, to "kill Russians"), you may find yourself rolling your eyes now and then.

I know there was a bit of controversy at the time about cuts made to the script to pacify certain people (namely the socialite that Julia Roberts plays, who threatened legal action, and Hanks himself, who was allegedly "uncomfortable with the whole 9/11 thing", and didn't want to draw a direct connection between arming the mujahideen and subsequent turns) and what we're left with is a film that's really little more than a puffy piece of entertainment, rather than a no-holds-barred satire of backroom deals and corruption being turned on its ear.

Which maybe it was never meant to be.

[–] smoko 9 years ago

@JoeSchmoe19941997 I haven't watched The Newsroom except for a clip from the first episode, but I've seen The West Wing several times.

Charlie Wilson’s War is like The West Wing, but without the schmaltz.

So this movie does have fast-paced dialogue and witty humor. If that's not your thing, then skip it. As it happens, that is my thing, so I like this movie.

[–] hammerbutt 9 years ago

The dialogue isn't so obviously Sorkinese as his shows

[–] fanaticita 8 years ago

There was a lot of "speed talk" in this film. Sometimes so fast that I had to turn on the subtitles to find out what was said.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] drbond007 8 years ago

I dont think there's a Typical Sorkinese. Yes he's a very good writer but he's been stereotyped as the "Gov't/ Military/ News"....writer.
He's the GO TO guy for those themes.

This movie is indeed well written with sharp witty dialogue. Having Nichols direct it is the final icing on the cake. Of the cast Hoffman steals the show.