'Charlie's War' provides entertaining story about serious situation

"Charlie Wilson's War" tells an entertaining story about a serious situation when a partying, womanizing East Texas congressman, a conservative Houston socialite and a rogue CIA agent team up to pull off the most successful covert operation in U.S. history by driving the Soviets out of Afghanistan during the height of the Cold War.

Universal Studios (enlarge photo) In ''Charlie Wilson's War,'' congressman Charlie Wilson, played by Tom Hanks, a key member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, essentially runs a private war in Afghanistan in the early 1980s, by arming the mujaheddin against the Soviet invaders. His special team includes a wealthy Houston socialite played by Julia Roberts and a rogue CIA operative, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Tom Hanks plays Charlie Wilson, the former Democratic congressman from Lufkin who is known in Washington circles and to his constituents as "Good Time Charlie." The film portrays Wilson as a politician who makes sure the office liquor cabinet stays full and is more concerned with getting a seat at the Kennedy Center to entertain his girlfriends and less concerned about which way to vote on a legislative bill. Wilson's interests in politics are limited to international affairs. "All my constituency cares about are jobs and taxes," he explains. He grows concerned with the plight of the Afghans after seeing a Dan Rather special on their underdog fight against the Soviets.

Enter Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), a Houston socialite who has ambitions to drive the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan. Wilson's on-again, off-again lover appeals to his bleeding heart and his libido and convinces him to use his congressional power to pull off a successful covert war against the Soviets.

Wilson enlists the help of Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a smart-aleck CIA agent. It's an uphill battle for Wilson and Avrakotos, as they have to make it appear as though the weapons used against the Soviets are actually weapons that were stolen from the Soviets. But Israel has the weapons. Problem is the U.S. needs Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, three countries that don't get along with Israel, to cooperate to get those weapons to the Afghans. But some witty banter, a belly-dancer performance and cash are used to get everyone on the same page.

It isn't any easier in the U.S., where Wilson faces a cocaine scandal and a political battle with Doc Long (Ned Beatty), chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee. And, as the end of the film alludes to, there was an issue with giving Afghanistan a billion dollars.

Screenplay writer Aaron Sorkin and director Mike Nichols turn a 550-page book (written by the late George Crile) into a tight 96-minute film. This leaves the audience hungering for more but not frustrated that too much was left out. Sorkin and Nichols do a great job of multi-tasking by combining scenes from the book, like when the audience finds out some of Wilson's background on a plane trip from Pakistan or when the first meeting between Wilson and Avrakotos happens at the same time Wilson's staff of beautiful women (known as "Charlie's Angels) inform him that he is being investigated for cocaine use in a hilarious scene.

Scene contrasts are effective, moving smoothly from Afghanis on a desert mountain trying to launch a missile at a Soviet helicopter to the high heels of Wilson's secretary, Bonnie (Amy Adams) covering a plush carpet as she delivers the news to Wilson.

Aiding the Afghans did have its price, as the country went through a period of turmoil that hatched the rise of the Taliban. "Charlie's War" shows you its take on what went wrong after the Soviets were driven out of Afghanistan and Wilson offers his own opinion with a forceful statement at the end.

Hanks always sets the bar high, and he delivers a top-notch effort again. He embraces the East Texas accent and Wilson's mannerisms and posture. In fact, he looks exactly like Wilson in one scene where he leans back in an airplane seat. He can take charge of a scene but also backs off when the situation calls for it, like when he visits the Pakistan presidential suite.

Roberts adds plenty of star power to increase the film buzz but also turns in a unique performance. She had to play a role she hasn't played before — that of the older southern bell — and nails it.

Philip Seymour Hoffman ("Capote," "Red Dragon") makes a thunderous entrance and owns every scene he is in. His exchanges with Hanks are priceless as he delivers the most appropriate and inappropriate remark at the same time. "He's an acquired taste," Wilson says of Avrakotos.

Adams ("Enchanted," "Junebug") is cute but her part doesn't add anything to the film as Wilson's chief of staff. Beatty ("Deliverance," "Network") does fine as a southern lawmaker. There are several of "Charlie's Angels" and they all play the role well of cute and bouncy staff members. Om Puri plays Gen. Zia Ul-Haq, the president of Pakistan. Puri didn't know much about the role, so he made it his own. He did learn the general had a sense of humor so it fit well in the film. "Charlie's War" provides a serious storyline in a humorous way that will keep the audience laughing.

"Charlie Wilson's War" is rated R for nudity, language and drug use. If East Texans only see one film this holiday season, they owe it to themselves to make it this own. Just be sure to leave the kids at home.