Julia Roberts: 15 greatest movies of all time

14. Charlie Wilson’s War

Original Release Date December 21, 2007

Box Office Earnings: $15,952,430 (USA opening weekend), $66, 661, 095 (USA gross)

Critical Acclaim: 1 Academy Award nomination (Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role)

5 Golden Globe nominations (Best Motion Picture, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Best Screenplay)

5 wins and 17 other nominations

About the Role: In this movie based on real events, Roberts plays the role of Joanne Herring, a real journalist and American socialite. She’s the one that encourages Charlie Wilson to help the Afghanistan people against Soviet control. Herring is now viewed as the woman who almost single-handedly started the U.S. support for Mujahideen and Roberts portrays all that beautifully.

Simply the Best: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman join together for a political thriller based on real events. It’s a true story that you may have heard of but not learned all the details. In this fictional portrayal, you’ll learn far more about Congressman Charlie Wilson and the way he helped the Afghan people in the 1980s.

It’s one of those movies that will leave you gripped from start to finish. You want to see how Charlie Wilson is going to develop and change his ways. Everyone finds themselves intrigued by CIA agent Gust Avrakotos. And you just can’t help but wonder what Joanne Herring wants out of all this. Plus, it’s an interesting look at the way the Cold War came to an end and the rise of the Middle East, setting up events that have happened today.

The best thing is that it does all this with a comedic twist.