The Real Story Of Charlie Wilson DVD Review

The Real Story of Charlie Wilson

Here is a documentary that insults any and all people who try to gain a deeper understanding of the events revealed in Mike Nichols’ Charlie Wilson’s War. It insults the viewer simply because it claims to offer the true story behind the man that Hollywood has dramatized in a film, while also offering dramatizations that play up precisely what a documentary detailing an event in history is supposed to provide as a mere outgrowth—the identity of Charlie Wilson as a Texas drinker, gambler, and skirt-chaser. We get some information about his arming of the Afghan Mujahideen that is relevant, actually no, we get enough information on that, it’s merely that the entire story is framed by the identity of the man. I’m glad that the History Channel is in fact releasing this documentary so that those who want to know see that Ronald Reagan helped end the Cold War, but mostly acted as a figurehead after Wilson did all of the work along with his CIA buddy Gust Avrakotos, but the documentary is peppered with commentary describing Charlie Wilson as a down home, good old boy who took on the Evil Empire. Some of the crimes the documentary commits: dramatizations of Charlie Wilson, while also having the real man being interviewed. Now, the lack of continuity resulting from such a mistake could be dealt with in a competent manner, if the director was, say Errol Morris, the inventor of contemporary non-fiction film. But as it stands, it is a terrible mistake to have a scene showcasing the descriptions of Charlie Wilson allegedly doing blow in a Vegas hotel, with topless strippers surrounding him, with their breasts blurred. Apparently we are able to see Wilson’s past dramatized, but not enough that we may see the fill account even on the DVD version. Another crime it commits is its apparent subjectivity on the matter of the Evil Empire, interviewing Joanne Herring, the anti communist activist who helped Charlie Wilson along by convincing the Congress to allow budgetary funding for the operation, Joanne Herring. She states very true things about Mother Russia and what it did to the Afghan inhabitants, but then, the documentary’s dramatic music stops, and then she interjects with “and they laughed while they did it.” Hardly a testimony form someone who actually experienced the atrocities firsthand, for if she had been there she would have been slaughtered, if the Russians were as vicious in their attacks so as to mock their dead. This sort of commentary does not belong in a documentary, and in fact does not belong anywhere where anyone should listen. Joanne Herring, while she deserves to be respected for her hand in the whole matter, is hardly a person to interview regarding what atrocities the Red Army engaged in. To its credit, the documentary does in fact interview various Soviet generals, but the most we get out of them are merely affirmations of the afghan’s triumph, almost weakly apologizing for their actions, rather than illustrating what they had done. It seems completely orchestrated to pound another nail in the coffin if the soviet union rather than made to inform one about the nation’s history and downfall. And, a documentary that so flaunts its status as a documentary by virtue of the true story of, also commits another crime, it features the screenwriter of Chalrie Wilson’s war providing commentary. Yes, he is a reliable source who knows the material and its history. But for a documentary that is trying to give more information to the general public than a film version, it appears to fail on all counts by having this person describe the events. This continues later at the end of the documentary about how the Taliban, 9/11, and the Mujahideen uprising are interrelated. It is brushed off as quickly as possible and there is quite the lovely comment by the screenwriter, Alan Sorkin, regarding Wilson’s responsibility. “no one is responsible for 9/11,” he says, “except a couple of twisted c***suckers,” and despite Sorkin’s knowledge of the subject, his left-of-center beliefs, and his alleged responsibility regarding the honesty of the history and the politics he writes into his screenplays, it seems as though he is playing to a soundbyte-ready audience rather than offering a real political opinion. Not to mention the documentary bleeps out his word despite that this is a DVD, neutering even that cookie cutter statement. Though, to his credit, he never says who the twisted so-and-so’s are, and therefore avoids being part of the echo chamber of propaganda constantly driving home since 9/11. Still, doe sthis belong in a documentary? Maybe they could have had a terrorism expert to respond to the allegation that Charlie Wilson was somewhat responsible for the rise of the Taliban rather than the screenwriter, who despite his credentials, is not the person to talk to for a definitive argument on the subject. The DVD includes no extras, which is a shame considering this was an opportunity to actually showcase history instead of pounding home history in a package only meant for true believers. This is not history.