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Charlie Wilson's War
Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams
Directed by Mike Nichols
Running time: 101 minutes
This is the real life story of Congressman Wilson, a playboy who liked his drinks, women and simply having a good time. He also supported Afghan rebels during the Soviet occupation. What’s most surprising about this film is that unlike many American films depicting the fight between the Russians and the Afghan mujahedeen, this one is a hoot.
Everything comes together nicely including the perfect cast. Tom Hanks plays the sly congressman who represented Texas’s Second Congressional District in the House of Representatives while Julia Roberts is an ultra right-wing Texas socialite. Then stealing the show is the always fantastic Philip Seymour Hoffman. Here he plays Gust Avrakotos a hot tempered brilliantly clever C.I.A. operative.
Traditionally this subject matter does not lend itself to lots of laughs but this film quite successfully skirts the line and delivers a few laughs while depicting a ‘simpler’ time when the US secretly armed Muslim anti-imperialist freedom fighters to fight the Russians. Unfortunately, the US would only spend billions on guns, then ran without a cent for roads, hospitals, or schools. This of course all but causing the cluster duck situation we now have in that area. In the end this film is a delicious slice of satire pie.
Speaking of delicious, go see Sweeny Todd, and No Country for Old Men. As much as I dislike encouraging people to take their money out of town, it appears our theatre won’t be getting these films and they are definitely worth the drive to the city to see on the big screen.
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