Though one naturally stems from the other, there are times when the acute sayings, "Fact is stranger than fiction" and "Politics makes for strange bedfellows" are best used alone. This is not one of them. For both intermingle and then some in "Charlie Wilson's War," the highly enjoyable adaptation of George Crile's 2003, best-selling novel of the same name.
The opening scene -- featuring the title character (played by the always reliable but initially seemingly miscast Tom Hanks) being recognized after the fact for helping bring about the fall of the Soviet Union -- may set the stage for what's to come. Yet, it's the subsequent one that sets the tone and satirical heartbeat that make the offering what it is.
That's when we see the Texas congressman at a wild party, nude and drinking in a hot tub, listening to a pitch for a "Dallas" type show and watching some shapely strippers enter the toasty water with them. With such distractions including drug use occurring around him, his attention is diverted by, of all things in that scenario, Dan Rather reporting from Afghanistan on the TV.
Although that might not seem like the beginning of the end of the Cold War, it is in Aaron Sorkin's take on Crile's work that, as hard as it may be to believe, is based on real events. Granted, liberties have presumably been taken with at least some of facts, character attributes and more, and what follows is a seemingly far-fetched, fanciful look at that pivotal time in history that unfortunately led to a darker one years later.
Yet, director Mike Nichols, working from Sorkin's terrifically written screenplay and with a cast that's obviously game and eager to please, pulls it all together and makes it work in an utterly convincing and crowd-pleasing fashion. It might not be political reality in terms of exactly what really happened or, more noticeably, how people really talk and behave, but as a piece of political dramedy, you'd be hard-pressed to find something as engaging and entertaining as this.
Much of that stems from Sorkin's work that will likely remind some viewers of the similar qualities to the writer's efforts on the small screen with "The West Wing" and later the short-lived but terrific "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." As with those shows, the scribe creates characters grounded in reality, but with extraordinary characteristics, particularly in terms of their sharp, witty, and fun verbiage and exchanges.
Of course, one needs performers who can pull that off, and the filmmakers obviously score with a cast that includes the headliners of Hanks, Julia Roberts as a fervent anti-communist, Texas socialite, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as a ticked-off, loose cannon version of a CIA case operative who provides the congressman with some much needed info, advice, and camaraderie. The dialogue and interactions -- both verbal and physical -- between all of them is superb, and Hoffman delivers a supporting performance that's truly worthy of some serious award recognition.
Part of the fun of a flick like this is in watching characters who not only know their stuff but also how to work the system, thus luring in viewers who wish they could be, speak and behave like them. Accordingly, the enjoyment is with following them as they easily but sometimes just luckily deal with and maneuver around the various obstacles that drop in their way of achieving their goal.
The fact that the three main characters initially seem like unlikely teammates and heroes (particularly regarding Hanks' "party boy" type character, although he quickly and effortlessly grows into that) in helping the Afghans battle the invading Soviet forces only adds icing onto this delicious offering. Throw in various bits of observational and political satire, and the result is an enjoyable and occasionally thought-provoking bit of entertainment for adults. "Charlie Wilson's War" rates as a 7 out of 10.
![[Screen It]](/images/underground_header.jpg)