Even though it centers around politics and developing a covert war, "Charlie Wilson's War" is a thoroughly entertaining, and more often funny than dramatic, movie.
Tom Hanks stars as Charlie Wilson, a free-wheeling, let the good times roll, 1970s Texas senator. He enjoys his nights in Vegas just as much as he enjoys his 10am Scotch in his Washington office. Charlie also holds some influence in Washington as his sits on two high-powered committees. Julia Roberts has the role of a very affluent Texas woman who not only is one of Charlie's bigger campaign donors, but who also influences the senator to learn more about the Soviet war going on in Afghanistan. Charlie becomes convinced that the United States can knock down the Soviet war machine by covertly funding the Afghan mujahideen. To help him set all of this up, Charlie turns to a CIA operative (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who knows how to work the system.
It is a rare experience when a movie involving Congressional subcommittees, trips to Afghanistan, and a smarmy Senator can make you laugh and wince at the same time. "Charlie Wilson" makes that happen. Hanks is great as the Senator-with-a-covert-cause. Roberts does little to be appealing, and her character is the least-developed of anyone. Beyond her religious views, we really are never told why she wants to get the Soviets out of Afghanistan. It is Hoffman who, as usual, steals the show. He is simply outstanding in every single scene he is in.
The irony of the whole movie is summed up in the end as we are reminded that, while the intentions were all good, the end result helped to create the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Still, of all the recent movies involving wars in the Middle East, this is the best. I give it an A-.
"Charlie Wilson's War" is rated R with a running time of 97 minutes.
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