Review of Charlie Wilson's War (2007) by Deb S — 03 Jan 2010

Charlie Wilson, an American Congressman with a good heart becomes the driving force behind funneling money to Afghanistan rebels to fight the covert war in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union. He travels to Afghanistan to assess the situation, and is stunned by what he sees. He returns to the US determined to help the Afghans, only to find his colleagues extremely indifferent to the situation - and himself under investigation for allegations of drug use.

The main characters are all well played by Tom Hanks who gives a fine performance as the lovable rogue with a cause and Philip Seymour Hoffman was phenomenal and steals every scene as the abrasive Gus. His first scene with him breaking the glass and the scene where he first meets Charlie are two of my favorites in this film. Amy Adams acted very well as Hank's administrative secretary, the most dignified and least skimpy out of the rest of his young-woman-dominated workforce. Indian actor Om Puri too excelled as the then Pakistani dictator-president Zia Ul Haq who took over presidency.

Through it all pulses a warm pride and love of America which I appreciated. But while we left the Afghans free, it was in a devastated country. That was the whole point of that scene where Charlie is vainly trying to get decent appropriations for rebuilding Afghanistan's infrastructure, he wanted to spend $1 million to build schools. Too bad once the main objective is achieved, i.e. ridding the communists from Afghanistan, it is seen how quickly the plight of people is forgotten whereby the vacuum created was filled by the Taliban with terrible results......

"You know you've reached rock bottom when you're told you have character flaws by a man who hanged his predecessor in a military coup.".

This film's dialogue is incredible and so interesting that you never feel the time of the movie go by. Highly recommended for its sharp political satire and witty lines.