A War worth supporting

Charlie Wilson's War
Rated R for: strong language, nudity/sexual content and some drug use
Running Time: 1 hr, 37 min
Starring: Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams

Rating: Three stars (out of four)

In theatres now



In an age where most mainstream films seem to be shooting for mediocrity at best, it's nice when a film like Charlie Wilson's War comes around that not only tries to be a quality film, but also tries to tell a unique story, as well. Since quality film is in very short supply these days (at least from the studio system), Charlie Wilson stands out, even if, as a film, it's not exactly tremendous.

Which isn't to say it's bad, either. In fact, the film is far from that- it's a genuinely entertaining bit of fluff that has something on its mind, albeit it's more concerned with entertaining than preaching.

Charlie is based on the true story of the aforementioned title character, who, as a congressman in the early eighties, was a charming, if slightly misogynistic man who believed in having fun as well as taking care of business.

When Charlie (Tom Hanks) finds out about the Russian invasion of Afghanistan and subsequent slaughter of thousands of innocent people, he knows something needs to be done. You see, congress has given only $5 million dollars aid to the cause, which, relatively speaking, is mere peanuts, and they will need much, much more than that if they have any chance of fighting back and surviving.

So Charlie, with the help of his rich socialite friend, Joanne (Julia Roberts) and a C.I.A. agent (played with wonderful comedic chops by the always terrific Philip Seymour Hoffman) sets out to, essentially under the table, fund the Afghan's rebellion against the Soviets.






It's something almost completely unheard of: Charlie Wilson, nearly single-handedly, set out to start a covert war without the President's approval.

It certainly makes for an interesting and engaging story, but what really makes the film worth seeing are the performances by Hanks and Hoffman, who play off each other perfectly. While the movie could certainly be classified as a drama, it never teeters too far away from lighthearted moments, either, and there are plenty of huge laughs to be had throughout the running time.

I want to emphasize, again, just how great Philip Seymour Hoffman is in the role. In less talented hands, he could have easily turned into a one-dimensional caricature, but he breathes life into the character and practically steals the entire show.

Credit must also go to writer Aaron Sorkin (better known as the mastermind behind The West Wing) for his adaptation of the source novel, and director Mike Nichols, who manages to keep the tone of this comedy-drama from tipping too far into either the serious or lighthearted side of the fence.

As I said earlier, Charlie Wilson's War isn't a groundbreaking, amazing film by any means. But it is a very enjoyable one, and certainly worth the price of admission. In a time when most movies are easily forgotten as soon as you're back to your car, it's nice to have something of quality playing at the local multiplex. For that alone, it's worth seeing.