edited by Moisés Chiullan

The Third Man (Criterion Blu-ray)
This title in particular has been the subject of a good deal of controversy on Elsewhere (among other sites), message boards, and email lists across the web. No one seems to talk about much aside from the "Grain Issue." Since the grain (or overabundance thereof) is the obvious elephant in the room, I'm going to address it before getting on to the additional content on display here, of which there is much to see and thoroughly enjoy. (continued)

Upcoming

December 31

Defiance

Good

January 2

Cargo 200

January 7

Silent Light

January 9

After Dark Horrorfest 2009

Bride Wars

How About You

Not Easily Broken

The Unborn

Yonkers Joe

January 16

Chandni Chwok to China

Cherry Blossoms

Hotel for Dogs

My Bloody Valentine 3-D

Notorious

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

January 21

Of Time and the City

Trade reviews of "Charlie"

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Two positive trade reviews for Charlie Wilson's War went up today. Variety's Todd McCarthy called it "a smart, sophisticated entertainment for grownups...snappy, amusing and ruefully ironic." And the Hollywood Reporter's Kirk Honeycutt said...well, it's hard to find a tight summation of opinion, but he notes that this "outrageous tale of 1980s-era good corruption, apparently largely true and all the more outrageous for that, might be the perfect antidote to today's shrill political scene with Republicans and Democrats staking out intractable positions and accomplishing little."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 28, 2007 at 5:28 PM

comment #1

D.Z. says ...

"outrageous tale of 1980s-era good corruption, apparently largely true and all the more outrageous for that, might be the perfect antidote to today's shrill political scene with Republicans and Democrats staking out intractable positions and accomplishing little."

Yes, Wilson's actions have no bearing on the issues we are confronting today...

Posted by D.Z. at November 28, 2007 8:19 PM

comment #2

cjKennedy says ...

Just curious DZ, what do you suppose is the ultimate point of the movie?

Posted by cjKennedy at November 28, 2007 11:34 PM

comment #3

Dirty Harry says ...

Did Honeycutt even see the movie?

Wilson "gets elected in a Texas district that doesn't care what he does as long as he brings home the bacon."

No. Wilson says just the opposite: That his constituents in fact want nothing from him as long as taxes remain low and no one takes their guns. Far from bringing home the bacon.

"Gust Avrakotos (Hoffman), whose long years overseas means he knows the best arms advisor in the Pentagon -- who happens to be a 29-year-old chess champion -- the bests dealer in Russian arms -- who happens to be Israeli"

The Israeli arms dealer was Wilson's contact.

The movie really is a talky mess. Especially the second half where episodic events completely swamp the characters.

And no doubt in 20 years, after Iraq and Afghanistan are functioning, prosperous allies of America, some Hollywood liberals will come along, blow Joe Liberman's contribution completely out-of-context, and try to say the Democrats deserve credit for winning those wars as well.

But it is good to know the Hollywood left -- who fought and ridiculed Reagan every step of the way -- is finally catching on that the Cold War might've been worth fighting. 25-years too late, but hey, common ground, right?

And I loved the irony-free use of Gunga-Dan Rather. What was that about? The forever third-placer was far from the face of news in the 80s. Is someone trying to salvage the disgraced former anchor's repuation? No, that didn't take me or the people chuckling around me out of the movie at all.

My screening (half press -- half recruits) ended with scattetered unenthusiastic applause and no small amount of grumbling on the way out. As we were filing out someone said loudly and sarcastically, "I didn't know the Democrats won the Cold War." Which cracked a few of us up.

I'm less bullish on its BO chances now.

Philip S. Hoffman, however, is the whole show. Just marvelous.

Posted by Dirty Harry at November 29, 2007 7:05 AM

comment #4

D.Z. says ...

cj: "Just curious DZ, what do you suppose is the ultimate point of the movie?"

Well, if it's anything like the trailer, I'd imagine the point will be that it's important to do what you think is right, even when the odds are against you.

Harry: "And no doubt in 20 years, after Iraq and Afghanistan are functioning, prosperous allies of America""

Wait, didn't they say we'd be out of there in a few months?

"some Hollywood liberals will come along, blow Joe Liberman's contribution completely out-of-context, and try to say the Democrats deserve credit for winning those wars as well."

Um, we didn't win in Afghanistan then or now. In fact, they're contributing to that other failed war by growing more opium than ever before...

"But it is good to know the Hollywood left -- who fought and ridiculed Reagan every step of the way --"

Yeah, selling weapons to terrorists and cocaine to
street gangs was just a misunderstanding.

"is finally catching on that the Cold War might've been worth fighting."

Sure, just ignore those Bosnian casualties which were a result of the Cold War ending...

"As we were filing out someone said loudly and sarcastically, "I didn't know the Democrats won the Cold War." Which cracked a few of us up."

I didn't know how much a Republican was willing to let a anti-democratic commie country like China contaminate most of our products we used to manufacture with lead, either.

Posted by D.Z. at November 29, 2007 7:32 AM

comment #5

cjKennedy says ...

You've just described about 75% of all trailers ever made DZ, but thank you for clarifying that you don't know what you're talking about. It was nice to hear it in your own words.

Posted by cjKennedy at November 29, 2007 8:25 AM

comment #6