Family, friends, neighbors hold impromptu reunion at the Lufkin premiere of 'Charlie Wilson's War'

The first Lufkin showing of "Charlie Wilson's War" seemed more like a reunion than a movie premiere as Wilson's friends, neighbors and former staff filled more than half the theater at Carmike Cinema Lufkin Mall 9 to see how Hollywood portrayed Wilson.

Joel Andrews/The Lufkin Daily News (enlarge photo) Lufkin Mayor Jack Gorden greets Norma Butler at the Lufkin premiere of 'Charlie Wilson's War.' Butler worked as Wilson's district assistant in Lufkin for 14 years. The movie, which opened Friday, is being shown at the Carmike Cinema Lufkin Mall 9. Many of Wilson's friends and former colleagues attended the earliest showing to see how accurately Hollywood portrayed the former congressman.

Nearly everyone had a personal connection to the former congressman, and most knew each other, even if they hadn't been in touch for years.

Before the movie started, favorite "Charlie" stories could be overheard throughout the theater.

"If Wilson was here, he'd turn this into a fund-raiser," boomed one voice from the crowd.

Everyone laughed.

Regardless, it was obvious everyone was gathered to do what they had been doing for years — show support for Charlie.

As the theater darkened, the room became quiet, the silence broken by occasional bouts of laughter after a Wilson one-liner.

Getting one of the biggest laughs was the scene in which Tom Hanks, as Wilson, is asked to serve on the congressional ethics committee.

Wilson responds to the request by saying everyone already knows he's on the opposite side of that issue.

The movie, which tells the story of Wilson's support of the Afghan mujahideen in their war against the Soviets, has already earned five Golden Globe nominations.

It also earned rave reviews from some of those closest to him.

Carol Smith worked for Wilson as his district assistant from 1977-86. "It was a wonderful movie and Charlie was a wonderful public servant," Smith said. "I worked here in Lufkin and was able to see all the positive things he did for his constituents here. Charlie was loved by all parties and when he had a cause, he would go after it."

Scott Tatum served as an intern in Wilson's Washington, D.C. office. "Charlie had the best office on Capitol Hill," Tatum said. "He also had the best staff; the film portrayed them as a group of good-looking girls, but they were smart and had great reputations in Washington." Tatum said the film's length, at just over 95 minutes, made it impossible to include all the unsung heroes, but was still a "wonderful job."

Keith and Martha Sutton met Wilson when Martha sold Avon products to Wilson's wife, Barbara. "He was a very fine person," Martha Sutton said. "He was an ordinary guy who did some extraordinary things." She thought the movie was "fabulous." "Hanks portrayed him to the very best," she said.

Cyndi Kullback, Wilson's neighbor, had been worried about how the movie would portray Wilson. After seeing it, those fears were relieved. "I was concerned it was going to show more about his exhibitionism than his patriotism," she said.

Lufkin Mayor Jack Gorden and his wife Mary Jo also took in the matinee. "I thought (the movie) was great," Gorden said. "I had high expectations and it exceeded them." Gorden's first exposure to Wilson came while Gorden was in college. "I worked in a couple of his early campaigns," he said. "It was a lot of fun."

One didn't have to know Wilson to appreciate the movie. Gerald and Wendy French, who recently moved to Lufkin, both enjoyed the film. "It was very informative for someone new here to know that history," Wendy French said.

Gerald French called it "excellent."

Lorri Donnahoe, who worked as caseworker in Wilson's district office during his last four years in office, also thought the portrayal of Wilson was accurate.

Donnahoe calls Wilson, "the best boss I ever had."

Peyton Walters worked as Wilson's district director in Lufkin for 12 years, then another six as Wilson's chief of staff in Washington. "I loved (the movie)," Walters said.

Walters accompanied Wilson to the ceremony portrayed in the movie's opening scene, although the actual event did not take place in an airplane hangar, he said. "They escorted Charlie off the bus and here's this bubble filled with CIA people," Walters said. "Everybody's sitting eyes front, and the guys up front are very rigid, and when Charlie walked through the door, they all immediately stood up. No one looked right or left. And then, after we were situated, they all sat down and burst into applause."

The experience was so moving it nearly brought Walters to tears, he said.

Walters said he didn't understand how powerful Wilson was until he saw him in action in Washington. "Charlie tended to business. All the playboy stuff, that's fine. He enjoyed life. His theory was 'You don't go around looking like a constipated hound dog.' It was the experience of a lifetime and I wouldn't give anything for it."

Staff writer Nick Wade contributed to this story.