The first Academy screenings for Charlie Wilson’s War (Universal, 12.25) have been scheduled for Monday, 12.3 — one in New York, one in Los Angeles. This plus director Mike Nichols‘ tendency to finesse his films until the very last minute (like a lot of directors) plus his statement at last night’s American Cinematheque tribute to Julia Roberts that he’s still tooling around with it indicates no media screenings until after Thanksgiving.
Aaron Sorkin‘s War script loses its energy a little bit in the final third. It’s best in the first and second acts. The ending is okay — thoughtful, echo-y, a “hmmm” quality — but it’s not gangbusters. Endings aren’t everything, but they matter.
