Audience members laughing at inappropriate parts of "Charlie Wilson's War"

[gauguin57]

Went to see the movie yesterday ... very entertaining. Very Aaron Sorkin.

However, the movie doesn't overtly spell out what eventually became of the Afghan "freedom fighters" Charlie Wilson and the CIA et al secretly funded. I think the film assumed people had read a newspaper or, perhaps, WATCHED TV ON SEPT. 11, 2001.

But the way some audience members were laughing during the few parts that made subtle reference to what was to come (Taliban, terrorists, etc.) made my friends and me think these audience members really had no idea what the events in this movie eventually led to. That the U.S. always winds up propping up and arming some dictator or group who eventually turn around and bite us in the ass.

I was appalled. And saddened.

[SteppingRazor]

1. I know this will likely involve spoilers, but can you be more specific?

What exactly were people laughing at?

[gauguin57]

2. Possible spoiler alert

Near the end of the movie, Charlie Wilson realizes the mess that's been left in Afghanistan after the Soviets left (lots of unemployed young people with a lack of hope, radical fundamentalists coming in, etc) and wants to prevent problems with extra money for reconstruction ... a quote of his comes up on the screen, where he uses the "f-word" and talks about how this country blew it after the Soviet-Afghan war. Audience members were just howling over that. I wanted to stand up and yell, "HEY! WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT? DON'T YOU REALIZE WHAT BECAME OF THE PEOPLE TO WHOM WE SUPPLIED THOSE WEAPONS? THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY USING THEM ON OUR OWN SOLDIERS AS WE SPEAK???"

[SteppingRazor]

5. OK. To be fair, I might laugh at that one too.

Simply due to my bitter, cynical sense of humor when it comes to politics.

[Tempest]

13. I would have laughed for the same reason

I suspect many in the audience laughed for that reason as well.

[Rex]

11. They might also live in that warped bubble of Reagnites

You know, where night is day and up is down. Would explain their behavior.

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. That's why I have yet to see it, despite decent reviews.

It's rather like watching a race that you know is going to end in a horrific smash up - I don't know how I will handle the dread, and that knowledge has to color everything that preceeds it.

[gauguin57]

6. While my friends and I enjoyed it, we felt exactly that way ... we were creeped out the whole time,

knowing what this all led to. It's definitely a comedy, and has a very "West Wing" feel to it. Definitely worth seeing, but it WILL unsettle you.

[Breeze54]

4. Maybe they haven't seen "The Kingdom" yet?

:shrug:

The Kingdom (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0431197/

It seems to try to have a balanced view of both sides of the 'war on terrah'

What I liked best about it was the extra's on the DVD that has an historical timeline for OPEC; etc.

I was actually impressed that my 19 yr old rented it but I'm guessing it's due to all the action and blood and gore...

I want to see "Charlie Wilson's War". I watched the reviews this weekend and it got some good one's.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. When we came out of the theater I told my hubby

you and I are familiar with the history and this movie is a GOOD intro... but how many people even got the reference to Tip?

Aka Tip O'Neil?

Or the fact that Giulanni in the movie is our current crazy running for office, let alone that Afghanistan and Pakistam are NOT the same country?

And yes an audience member behind us had some interesting comments... about the coke commercial, let alone the movie... she wanted to see the coke movie... ain't shitting you

[gauguin57]

8. Yeah, and when the movie made reference to the death of Bhutto (referring to Benizir's FATHER)...

... I think people were really confused. There was a LOT of chatter all of a sudden (probably people trying to figure out how the movie predicted Benizir's assassination! :eyes:)

[shain from kane]

9. What audience are they trying to appeal to? I would think that anyone that would go to

see that movie, considering the other choices available, would know about the history. Another BOMB for Tom Hanks.



The Gap Band are a U.S. R&B, funk and soul music group who rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s with their heavily-charged dance anthems and their sentimental and ethereal love songs. Comprising brothers Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson, the band first formed as the Greenwood, Archer and Pine Street Band in 1967 in their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma and shortened its name to the Gap Band in 1979.

"YOU DROPPED A BOMB ON ME"

[JerseygirlCT]

10. Yes, there was just that one scene in which Gust (possible spoiler)

spelled out what he thought would happen, then that underlined by the refusal to spend a small amount of money...

It was subtle, and I suppose could be easily missed by those not likely to be informed.

I loved the movie, though. I miss Sorkin's writing!

[DesertRat]

12. Interesting. I saw the movie yesterday too

In a very Republican small mountain town. The theater was packed and moviegoers were silent during the parts you mentioned. After the final scene I heard a man a few rows ahead of us say, "and that's how the Taliban was started." It seemed like the audience really "got it".

Good movie, btw. I thought Tom Hanks was great. :thumbsup:

[walldude]

14. Maybe they were finally "getting it"

and the laughter was covering up the shock... Or maybe they already got it and were laughing at the "black comedy" aspect of it..

[taterguy]

15. Who are you to decide when it's "appropriate" to laugh

That strikes me as a bit Orwellian.

Dropping the F-bomb always gets a laugh.

If the producers didn't want people laughing then they would have concluded the movie by saying that great things were accomplished but that mistakes were made, not the "They fucked up the end game" quote that they actually used.

[Leopolds Ghost]

16. "They Fucked Up the End Game" Implies we had any business in Afghanistan in the first place

Charlie Wilson supported Afghanistan because it was "the only place in
the world we're killing Russkies" according to a recent Washington Post
bio / puff piece.

And we did it by organizing and funding a vast Islamist anti-communist
covert network worldwide.

Not to mention the close, high-level cooperation between "arch enemies"
Reagan/Bush and the Islamic Government of Iran -- first to release
hostages and then arms trade -- designed to engineer popular discontent
and bolster defense appropriations in both countries by propping up a
fictitious enemy.