MovieMantz Review: ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’

A Private Little ‘War’

by Scott Mantz

“Charlie Wilson’s War”
Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Directed by: Mike Nichols

“Charlie Wilson’s War” manages to do what none of the other politically themed dramas this fall did — it makes a powerful statement about the War on Terror without beating you over the head for 2 straight hours. And it does so while being first and foremost an immensely entertaining, razor-sharp satire that isn’t even about the current war, but a war of the past — the Cold War.

The fact that it’s far and away one of the year’s very best films is not surprising, since all the ingredients are there. They include top-notch performances (from Oscar-winners Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman), a provocative, funny, intelligent screenplay (written by Emmy-winner Aaron Sorkin) and fast-paced, well-executed direction (from Oscar-winner Mike Nichols).

Based on the best-selling book by George Crile, “Charlie Wilson’s War” tells the fascinating true story of a freewheeling Texas Congressman (Tom Hanks) who was passionate about patriotism, booze and women (in that order). Together with wealthy Houston socialite Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) and dedicated CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), they conspired to bring about the largest covert operation in U.S. history.

When the Russians invaded Afghanistan in the early 1980s, the freedom fighters were outnumbered and ill-equipped to strike back against their oppressors. Over the course of 9 years, Charlie, Joanne and Gust pushed to increase financial support of the Afghans from a measly $5 million-per-year to a whopping $1 billion annually. But little did they know that by helping the underdogs defeat our enemies of the past, they wound up arming our enemies of the future.

It would take a sharp-minded, politically-astute screenwriter like Aaron Sorkin to adapt Crile’s tome with such fascinating results. After years of toiling away on TV’s “The West Wing” — not to mention writing the screenplay for 1992’s “A Few Good Men” — it’s hard to imagine anyone better suited to tell such a challenging, complex story with witty dialogue and fully-defined characters without bogging the film down with too much exposition.

And more than 40 years after making his directorial debut — with 1966’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” — Mike Nichols brings it all together with a terrific political satire that’s even more relevant than 1998’s “Primary Colors.” He moves the film along at a brisk pace, and he also brings out the best in his performers. It’s been a while since Tom Hanks had such a meaty role to chew on, and Julia Roberts stands out prominently despite being in just in a few scenes. But Philip Seymour Hoffman flat-out steals the movie as the CIA pitbull, while Amy Adams is also terrific as Wilson’s right-hand-woman.

But what really makes the film leave such a lasting impression is the subtle argument it makes about staying the course in Iraq. Much has been said about why we shouldn’t be there in the first place, thanks to films like “No End in Sight” and “Lions for Lambs.” But by pointing out the consequences of not “finishing the job” in Afghanistan, “Charlie Wilson’s War” also hints that there may be drastic consequences for pulling out of Iraq too soon. It’s a powerful ending to a great film that ends the year on an exceptionally high note.

VERDCIT: SEE IT!