The first thing I should acknowledge in this review is that I'm a huge fan of the script writer Aaron Sorkin (the creator of the West Wing series). He creates hugely entertaining characters through intelligent rapid fire dialogue. Sorkin is given the opportunity to apply his talent to a factual story the film Charlie Wilson's War which gives an account of how America became increasingly involved in the Afghan's fight against the invading Soviets in the 1980s.
The film has a great caste including Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman. There's a great comedic element in this film its portrayal of the larger than life, politically incorrect excesses of high powered living in the 1980s. Hanks and Hoffman are particularly enjoyable playing off each other as they plan to increase support of the Afghans. But I'd have to say the film is most successful in progressively revealing a depth to the characters, particularly Charlie Wilson himself. The advertising for the film has focused on scenes that appear to simply illustrate the bungling ignorant approach of Americans to foreign policy but the film, as a whole, presents a more complex picture: Wilson maybe a drug snorting, womaniser whose office staff are like inhabitants from the Playboy Mansion but he is also a man with a ferocious interest in the world in which he lives and who is affected and motivated by what he sees.
Naturally the most poignant element of this movie is the overhanging knowledge of what has subsequently happened since the Soviets were finally forced out of Afghanistan. Again this is captured in a simple powerful manner in the character of Wilson in one of the final scenes of the film. This movies smart, it's funny, its entertaining, it has the politically rambunctious spirit that is Sorkin and it is highly recommended.
