CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR DVD Review

CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
ROG’S VIEWPOINT - 3 CAMS

RATED R

The true story of how Texas congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) secretly helped to bring about the end of the Cold War. With the assistance of disgruntled CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and wealthy Houston socialite Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), Wilson secured the funding to arm the Afghanistan rebels in their fight against the Russians in the 1980s. “Charlie Wilson’s War” is a mildly entertaining and interesting look at events that ultimately changed history. Based on the book by George Crile, this wry political commentary is at its best when Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman share screen time. Extremely well-acted, but it is another fine Hanks performance that is eclipsed by Hoffman - who easily grabbed a supporting actor nomination. When the two stars aren’t together on screen, the movie slows down considerably. The supporting players add little to the landscape. While it’s great to have Julia Roberts back, her radiant moments amount to nothing more than an extended cameo. The enchanting Amy Adams also gets too small a role as personal assistant to the boozing womanizer Wilson, who was surrounded by beautiful women in and out of the office (earning the film its “R” rating). Director Mike Nichols gets the most out of Aaron Sorkin’s witty screenplay, which is reminiscent of “The West Wing” (created by Sorkin). But this is not quite "Graduate" work for Nichols.
DVD Extras: A "making of" featurette and a profile on the real Charlie Wilson.

NATIONAL TREASURE 2: BOOK OF SECRETS DVD Review

NATIONAL TREASURE 2: BOOK OF SECRETS
ROG’S VIEWPOINT - 3 CAMS

RATED PG

To prove that an ancestor was not a conspirator in Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage) follows a trail that leads from John Wilkes Booth’s diary to a Presidential Book of Secrets. Along for the ride with Ben from Paris to London to Washington D.C. and Mount Rushmore are sidekick Riley Poole (Justin Bartha), ex-girlfriend Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger), father Patrick (Jon Voight) and mother Emily (Helen Mirren). Also in pursuit: bad guy Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris), who wants to leave his mark on the world, and FBI Agent Sadusky (Harvey Keitel). “National Treasure 2: Book Of Secrets” is almost a carbon copy of the first entry in the series and just as exciting. It is a touch of history disguised as pure popcorn entertainment. While not as inventive as “National Treasure”, the stellar cast looks like they’re having fun - and so does the audience. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Jon Turteltaub deliver the goods on the screen with around-the-world locales, massive sets and non-stop action. Maybe some of the facts are stretched or changed (a lost city of gold in America?), but this is just the type of guilty pleasure that could have inquisitive minds researching the past. A little education while entertaining is not a bad thing. Now that’s a treasure for us all.
DVD Extras: Deleted scenes, bloopers, audio commentary by director Jon Turteltaub and actor Jon Voight, featurettes, Easter Eggs and much more.