rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 2007
Directed by Mike Nichols; produced by Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks; screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
Starring Tom Hanks, Amy Adams, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ned Beatty, Emily Blunt
Mike Nichols directs Tom Hanks, Amy Adams, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman in not only one of the best, but also one of the most enjoyable films of 2007. This political comedy, which it is most of the time, tells the story of a Democratic congressman from Texas who basically was the reason the Russians left Afghanistan. We get to know Charlie Wilson as a womanizer and a heavy drinker. All he wants is a chance for the Afghans to shoot down those Russian helicopters. I never heard of this man, but 'Charlie Wilson's War' is based on a true story.
It is only after a visit to a refugee camp in Pakistan before Wilson means business. Help comes from Joanne Herring, a rich right winger with more influences you might expect. Within the CIA Wilson teams up with Gust Avrakotos, an at first unrecognizable Philip Seymour Hoffman. Since nobody wants the Cold War turned into a real war, American weapons are out of the question. They want to give the Afghans Russian weapons instead, conveniently located in Israel. Cooperation with Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia is also needed, which is kind of a problem since some of these countries don't recognize Israel as a souvereign state.
We know the Russians leave Afghanistan, so we know Wilson pulls it off. The way he does it guarantees a lot of fun. The performances are quite important in the process. Tom Hanks and his unexpected charm brings most of the comedy, although Hoffman's introduction gave me the biggest laugh of all. Roberts has some great lines when it comes to interaction with either Hanks or Hoffman. Wilson's personal assistant Bonnie Bach is played by the lovely Amy Adams, who scores both here and with the entertaining 'Enchanted'.
When you throw in this much talent expectations are often too high. Not with 'Charlie Wilson's War'. The film looks great, is performed by a terrific acting ensemble, and shows director Nichols at the top of his game. They are all working from a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin, who has some "political" experience when it comes to the big (or small) screen. This film deserves a bunch of Oscar nominations and don't see why that would not happen.