Film: Charlie Wilson's War

Highly amusing political drama about the decadent Texan congressman Charlie Wilson going out of his way to militarily enable the Afghan "Muj" and so helping them to defeat the invading Soviets.

I had little complaints with War. The acting was superb, drawing from a brilliant leading cast of Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Direction and production were also top notch, but it was the script and plot which shone the most.

Yes, the events themselves have probably been Americanized, but there is a poignant feel nonetheless for the lengths Charlie went to in order to provide arms to the Afghanis. We don't see too much detail of the process itself - further reading would probably be a good idea if that's required - but it appeared to be an altruistic move rather than manipulative one.

One could even forgive Charlie for having been a womanising alcoholic; not that I had a problem with him myself. I mean when he says of why he doesn't hire men that "You can teach them to type, but you can't teach them to grow tits" you have to admit that he has a point. Or maybe that's just me...

Anyway, the film itself is risk-free short and so is worth checking out if you're dubious; even if you decide that it overbearingly puts the America of the 80's in a good light, it acts as a fun and smart way to begin looking into the real events of that time. I certainly will be doing that myself.

Recommended.