Charlie Wilson's War

***

It’s not difficult for Hollywood to devise fictional, over-the-top characters to populate films. But, seldom do we see a historical recreation where the personalities display unmagnified character with such faithful observance to reality. In the impressively star-stocked celluloid, Charlie Wilson’s War, true-to-life characters abound and Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), a roguish Congressional swashbuckler, gives weight to the old saw that fact is stranger than fiction.

Texas Congressman Wilson is portrayed as a two-fisted womanizer who stays in touch with his constituency, doesn’t make unnecessary waves in Congress, votes “Yes,” a lot and in return possess a significant number of I.O.U.’s. In reality, this is exactly what the real Charlie Wilson was like. Known as the “Liberal from Lufkin,” he fought for utility regulation, Medicaid, rights for the elderly, the Equal Rights Amendment and was one of the few Texas politicians who supported pro-choice. He was also a notorious drinker, earning the nick-name “Good Time Charlie.”

Under the direction of Mike Nichols, the film reveals how Wilson, with the aid of CIA operative Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and support from Christian socialite Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), successfully maneuvers the Unites States into a covert war with Russia. Personally gripped by the struggles of the poorly armed Mujahideen of Afghanistan against the devastating might of the Russian Army, Charlie devises a clandestine operation that eventually leads to defeat of the Soviets in their own Vietnam style war. From Wilson’s Capitol Hill escapades to his series of odd political bedfellows everything about this legendary story is engaging.

Other than a couple of animation voice-overs (The Ant Bully, Charlottes Web), this is Roberts first film outing since 2004’s Ocean’s Twelve and she’s wonderful in the role of a woman who’s not only rich but on a mission. Since seeing this film I’ve read a bit about Charlie Wilson and Hanks nails the pirate charm of Wilson right to mast. Along with these two Golden Globe nominations the third is Philip Seymour Hoffman in what I believe is one of his best rolls ever, but I say that every time I see him on screen.

This story of Cold War politics harkens back to a day when all we had to worry about was the 28,240 nuclear warheads Russia had aimed at us. It’s a funny story right up to the end when we are reminded that if our efforts to help the Afghan people had extended past weapons, maybe to schools, infrastructure, health and industry, we might be living in a brightly different world today.