Charlie Wilson's War is how Aaron Sorkin would like America to see itself. Me, I just don't know—history feels too complicated for an hour and a half. (For an interesting alternative take, see here.) As mythology by which to understand our goals, however, America could do a lot worse. At least Sorkin does it better than Oliver Stone. Wilson's War has a lot of talent behind it, and it's entertaining and, I suppose, somewhat thought provoking. Let's kill some Reds!
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I Am Legend is how I like my religion—from the gut. Legend is apocalyptic in the biblical tradition. It turns out we're all going to be saved by the blood of a Christ-like Will Smith. (Jesus is Black!) Legend has more in common with M. Night Shyamalan's Signs, another genre bender religious product, than with a film like 28 Days Later, which was both more self-conscious and more aware of the limitations and potential of a genre that edges so close to farce. Nevertheless, Legend gets the job done with something close to economy and precision.
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