Charlie Wilson’s War

Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Om Puri

Dir. Mike Nichols
Scr. Aaron Sorkin (based on the book by George Crile)

This may earn me a few enemies, but I’m not a Tom Hanks fan. Well, “80s Tom Hanks” was great … but since then his movies usually take themselves too seriously or are just plain rubbish. I nearly didn’t see Charlie Wilson’s War for this very reason. But a slew of good reviews and Oscar-talk made me give in. And I’m glad I did. This is a perfectly paced, smartly acted, entertaining film. It didn’t feel very real or convincing, but was a joy to watch nonetheless. And Tom Hanks, I have to admit, was mighty fine.

Charlie Wilson’s War tells the story of Charlie Wilson, a Congressman from the Second District of Texas, who was known more for his partying than his politics. But, despite what the trailer leads you to believe (that Charlie is a moron), Wilson is in fact a smart, savvy politician. Yes, his office is filled with beauties, but these girls are as smart and savvy as their boss. Yes, he drinks whiskey like it’s going out of fashion, but he also checks the wires and shows a more than passing interest in global goings-on. Enter Joanne Herring (Roberts) – the fourth richest woman in Texas – who asks Wilson to help the Afghani people (who are suffering after being invaded by the Russians), and, well, we have a serious plot on our hands, which includes the CIA, the Pakistanis, the Jews, and a whole lot of American money. This is, somewhat unbelievably, a true story – the Afghani people defeated the powerful Russian because a Texan congressman saw to it they were trained and armed. But while this true story doesn’t feel all that “true”, it’s a ripper of a story nonetheless.

Mike Nichols is on fine form here, directing this film at a brisk pace and getting some great performances out of his cast. Credit too must go to screenwriter Sorkin, no stranger to compelling political tales as a regular writer on The West Wing, who does a great job in keeping the audience glued to the action which, in the wrong hands, could have easily been complex or tedious – this is certainly a dialogue-intensive script. Instead, this film feels fresh and crisp.

There are some excellent performances in Charlie Wilson’s War. Tom Hanks is spot-on as Wilson – despite appearances and reputation, Wilson is a man with intellect and integrity. Hanks pulls off this difficult mix expertly. In order for the film to succeed, we have to really like Wilson and root for his hugely optimistic and unbelievable plans. In Hanks’ hands, Wilson is damn-near loveable. Julia Roberts, as Herring, gives a lovely turn (wearing more make-up and hairspray in this one film than all her other films combined, I suspect) – she, like Wilson, is a somewhat paradoxical character, and Roberts understands what she needs to do to make Herring both unnerving and endearing. Despite this heady star-power, the real star of the show is Philip Seymour Hoffman, as CIA agent Gust Avrakotos. Like Wilson and Herring, Avrakotos is more than meets the eye – an unattractive, overweight agent, with serious anger management issues, Gust isn’t exactly typical CIA material. But his mind is sharp as a tack and he gets things done. Hoffman is absolutely brilliant in this role – it is as if it was written solely for him. The scenes between Hanks and Hoffman are a joy to watch (especially the first time their characters meet) – the delivery, the timing, the chemistry; it’s a rare thing to see. It’s a tight race this year, but my money is on Hoffman to get the best supporting actor Oscar nod. The remainder of the cast is equally excellent in this film – notably Amy Adams as Wilson’s right-hand-woman and Om Puri who gives a great performance as Pakistan’s President Zia.

There are some somewhat heavy-handed, but ultimately poignant and certainly necessary, messages in this film. About what nations choose to throw money at and what they choose to ignore. About the extent of America’s responsibility for the current situation in Afghanistan. About the nature of politics in general. Perhaps a dose of subtlety might not have gone amiss here. But, on the other hand, these things need saying and they need to be said loudly.

Charlie Wilson’s War is, in the end, a highly entertaining film. What you choose to make of it or take from it is your own business. But see it – you won’t be disappointed.

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Joanne Herring: Why is Congress saying one thing and doing nothing?
Charlie Wilson: Well, tradition mostly.