Hollywood says hooray for Charlie

Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts among stars who walk red carpet for 'Charlie Wilson's War'

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — The stars were big and bright Monday night at the premiere of "Charlie Wilson's War." None shone brighter than Lufkin's own former congressman.

Andy Adams/The Lufkin Daily News (enlarge photo) Tom Hanks visits with former East Texas congressman and Lufkin resident Charlie Wilson before the world premiere of 'Charlie Wilson's War' Monday night at Universal CityWalk Cinemas in Universal City, Calif.

Wilson, 74, received a heart transplant earlier this year but looked strong and healthy as he led his wife Barbara down the red carpet at Universal CityWalk Cinemas, inside the Universal Studios Hollywood complex.

"I can't believe this," he said of all the excitement surrounding the release of the movie that stars Tom Hanks in the story of Wilson's behind-the-scenes effort to arm the Afghan rebels in their fight against the Soviet Union.

Wilson and Hanks embraced at the end of the red carpet. Julia Roberts also showed up for the premiere, as did director Mike Nichols and his wife, Diane Sawyer.

The film, which portrays Wilson as a hard-partying playboy who changed the world, opens in theaters nationwide on Dec. 21.

"I just want to thank the people in Lufkin for their tolerance during all those years, and allowing me to do what this is about," Wilson said before he made his way into the theater. "I'm looking forward to getting back to Lufkin."

Hundreds of people filed into the premiere, including Buddy and Ellen Temple, the children of the late Arthur Temple III, a key Wilson supporter. Hundreds more braved the cold California air to get a glimpse of Oscar winners Hanks and Roberts. "Charlie Wilson's War" co-star Philip Seymour Hoffman, also an Oscar winner, and Oscar nominees Amy Adams and Ned Beatty didn't make the premiere, but plenty more stars did.

Hanks, who helped produce the movie, said he wanted to use it to tell a story that had only been told in George Crile's book of the same title.

"It's hard to make movies that have never been seen before, and try to find stories that haven't really been told," Hanks said. "It's three iconoclastic individuals — Joanne (Herring), Gust Avrakotos and Charlie — at a very historical time, and even though it's gone with the wind now, it still has massive repercussions, as we all know.

"The ball of history keeps on bouncing, and this is how it bounced back."

Hanks said he hadn't heard of Wilson until he read Crile's book. Then it took about two-and-a-half years to figure out how to make it.

"Charlie said we could do whatever we wanted to as far as his characterization and behavior was concerned," Hanks said. "He just wanted us to get the story right. There was a reason to do this, and that reason was based on good things."

Wilson and his wife walked the same red carpet as the Hollywood stars, posing for photos along the way. Wilson's sister, Sharon, attended the premiere in support of her brother, who Barbara Wilson said is doing "amazingly well" in his recovery from a heart transplant in September. Joanne Herring, Wilson's lifelong friend and a Houston socialite who encouraged him to support the cause of the Afghans, glowed in emeralds as she made her way down the red carpet.

Wilson, who is credited with helping end the Cold War, soaked up the media attention as his wife stood proudly by his side.

"It's an amazing story, and I'm glad it's being told," said Barbara, a former ballerina. "I'm glad he got his day in the sun."