ScreenWize

Charlie Wilson’s War opens with provocative and nationalistic sentimentality but then quickly finds its feet with some very cleverly scripted dark humour. It ends up however - rather like the foreign policy it is dealing with – in a rather messy last act, requiring a kind of cover-it-all-up and hope-for-the-best ending.

Based on the real story of a congressman from Texas, and adapted from a novel by George Crile, the film follows Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) as he champions a covert war in Afghanistan. No-one in America, it seems, has noticed that the Russian Army has invaded apart from Wilson, his wealthy Texan sponsor Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), and gutsy CIA operative Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Together they schmooze, bully and finagle dodgy arms dealers, warring governments and Appropriations Committees in an attempt to provide the Afghan Mujahideen with the weapons and training they need to kick some commie ass.

Wilson – the Hollywood version at least – is a deliciously suave and mannered Texan who likes his whisky – like the many women around him – any time of day. Hanks creates a highly likeable rogue, and his friendship with Seymour Hoffman’s acerbic Greek-American agent is where the strength and humour of the film lies. There’s nothing quite as entertaining as two forceful characters who can’t stand each other having to work together, and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin – best known as the creator of West Wing – sets a cracking pace for the dialogue. But director Mike Nichols – who has made a swag of award winning films including The Graduate and more recently Closer – cant quite pull all the talent he has at his disposal together to make a cohesive whole. Julia Roberts is decidedly stiff and Amy Adams as Charlie Wilson’s long-suffering assistant is barely noticeable.

This is part comedy, part history lesson, and part examination of American interference in international affairs, but Nichols pulls his punches on any comments of substance about where America has been or is going in Afghanistan, and also pulls his punchlines about halfway through the film, exchanging the comedy for a more jingoistic drama and then running out of storyline. Hollywood and history – it seems - continue their awkward three-legged race.

Rating:

Filed Under: Reviews by Simon