By: E&P Staff Former Rep. Charlie Wilson of Texas is back in the news thanks to the acclaimed new "Charlie Wilson's War" film, with Tom Hanks in the starring role. In the film he's a proud Texan, but a little liberal for that state in the 1980s. Not to mention a womanizer and boozehound.
To find out what the real guy thought of it, the Beaumont (Tx.) Enterprise interviewed him for a story. Here is an excerpt. Its site is www.southeasttexaslive.com.
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Charlie Wilson had big dreams. He wanted to be a Congressman. He wanted to sit on a powerful committee. He wanted to help the mujahedeen of Afghanistan fight back when the Soviets invaded.
But never did Wilson imagine that one of the most respected actors in Hollywood would be playing him in a major studio film, portraying how Wilson used his position on a military appropriations subcommittee to secretly funnel a $1 billion-plus in aid to the mujahedeen.
"Not in my wildest dreams," Wilson said about Tom Hanks as the lead in "Charlie Wilson's War," a $75 million film directed by Mike Nichols and written for the screen by Aaron Sorkin of "West Wing" fame.
"I didn't think anybody would be playing me in a movie, but certainly not the most famous movie star in the world."
Wilson, who attended the movie's premiere in Los Angeles on Dec. 10, said the movie "got a lot right."
"There were certain sins of omission, but that will always occur when you're trying to take 90 minutes out of a book. To cover all the important scenes would take four hours. The screenwriter did a great job in condensing it," Wilson said.
Hanks made him look "better than I really am," Wilson said. "He didn't quite have my cocky edge, but I suppose that was flattering. That edge becomes a little less cocky as the years go by."
Wilson, who often courted the limelight, nonetheless was surprised when the spotlights hit him on the red carpet at the premiere.
"I figured it would be the movie stars to get all the attention. Bob Woodruff came down here yesterday for ABC and did an hour-and-a-half interview," Wilson said. "I've turned down a lot of interviews. In a couple of weeks, I'll probably be calling them. There is nothing an old politician likes better than a little attention."
Wilson, who often proved how smart he was by playing dumb when it suited his ambitions, said he has a new respect for actors.
"I learned on the set that movie stars are really, really smart people, especially Tom and Julia and Seymour (Philip Seymour Hoffman). I already had a high regard for them. I am amazed at their breadth. Tom Hanks is a very studious historian.
"I enjoyed every minute of it. As I've said before, making that movie was the most fun I've ever had. Those who know me know that covers a lot of territory."
Reliving days filled with heightened emotions and subterfuge brought back "poignant" memories for Wilson.
"The courage of the Afghans, the horrors of the refugee camps and the desperation of the field hospitals where we tried to take care of the children - it was all very moving and very emotional," Wilson said.
If he had his life to live over, would he change anything?
"I can't think of anything," Wilson said. "I can think of a lot of things that could have been done a better way. As a whole, I've been a lucky guy. Reckless enough to have had a good time, but not so reckless that I wound up in jail."
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