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With the dream partnership of Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts headlining and the splendid acting talents of Philip Seymour Hoffman as more than able support, Charlie Wilson's War looked like an irresistible concept on paper. Furthermore, with the geopolitical subject matter surrounding a Texan Congressman's covert dealings in Afghanistan, renowned writer Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, The American President and television's "The West Wing") behind the screenplay and The Graduate's Mike Nichols at the helm, the film is extremely awards friendly.
It's audience friendly as well however. Sorkin infuses a fine balance of light comedy and tragedy in a based-on-a-true story of Uncle Sam assisting the little guy. With almost guaranteed victory every time an election rolls around, Hanks' Wilson will remain a Senator until the taxes of the people he represents rise to a stupidly expensive degree and legislation is introduced taking away firearms - he's a bored playboy in a very influential position. Yes, he may be sexist (take a quick glance at his office employees) and he occasionally likes to make the most of his upstanding and prestigious political spot (hookers and hot-tubs), but he isn't power mad, Wilson just wants to cease the turmoil in the war torn Middle East.
Hanks is as reliable as ever here and is perfectly complimented by Hoffman's wiseass CIA operative who blurts out witticisms like bullets. Roberts seems less comfortable in her stuck-up Texan socialite role but, like her fellow Oscar winners, the Georgia native is never exactly going to be cringe worthy on the silver screen. Amy Adams and Emily Blunt complete an all-star cast with the latter particularly shining in her brief cameo.
As long as you can dismiss the fact that Wilson and co.'s plans eventually led these 'freedom fighters' in question to form the Taliban and wreak havoc on the Western world, Nichols and Sorkin have created a nicely charged political history lesson about the real man who ended the Cold War. The patriotic tone and suitable comedic edge result in a political film which is actually tolerable to watch and ventures into wholesome entertainment territory.
The summary
Thought-provoking but not too intelligent for its own good thanks to the protagonist's own education into the Middle East and its problems as the film progresses, Charlie Wilson's War is a sterling effort by all parties involved.
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