Review of Charlie Wilson's War (2007) by Stuart K — 24 Mar 2011

From director Mike Nichols and writer Aaron Sorkin, comes this breezy political drama with a sharp comic edge, about one of the biggest turning points in 20th Century history, but hardly anybody has heard of the man, the socialite and the CIA agent who helped bring down the Soviets.

This has Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), a womaniser and boozer, who in 1980 after seeing a news report, is inspired to help out rebels in Afghanistan fight against the Soviet Union who are occupying their country.

Charlie Wilson has friends in high places, with a little help from Texan sociallite Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) and loose cannon CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), they help the Afghans regain control of their country.

They were able to broker a deal in Israel, who had confiscated Soviet weapons, to buy them to help the Afghan's fight against the Soviets. But, raising the money to help the Afghan's is a tricky business, but Wilson is able to raise aid from the original $5 million to $1 billion, but non of them know what effects it'll have in the future.

A very good character piece, brilliantly directed and thoroughly thought-provoking. Sorkin's script is excellent, Hanks and Roberts are great to watch but Hoffman steals just about EVERY scene he's in, even besting Hanks and Roberts, he's probabily worth seeing this film for alone.