The Feminist Review

I didn’t expect to enjoy Charlie Wilson’s War, and I wasn’t disappointed. The story itself is almost inspiring – look what a couple of people can accomplish! Of course, what they’re accomplishing is war – on behalf of people who truly needed justice – that certainly has not led to any security for Afghanistan.

Though the movement behind Charlie’s involvement in Afghanistan is Joanne Herring, the movie does nothing to explain her own background or motivations regarding Afghanistan. Instead her presence in the film is almost exclusively as a sexual partner for Charlie, or otherwise defined by her sexuality (whether or not she’ll be offensively dressed in Afghanistan, her comment to Charlie’s staff, etc.).

Charlie’s involvement with many women, his choice of staff (he can learn to type, but can’t grow tits, so he hires women he’s attracted to) is not explored at all by the film. It’s simply used to bring excitement to the story and add something “fun” to an otherwise depressing movie. While this was certainly part of his life (and probably still is), it shouldn’t just be tossed into the mix of a movie for thrills without any reflection on its deeper meaning or impact.

Filed under: movies on December 25th, 2008 by Anna Lisa