Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

   Charlie Wilson's War is a movie from 2007 that comes from one of my favorite backgrounds in which a film comes from; it's based on a true story. That alone would be enough for me to watch just about any film. However, a great plus is that this film is fun. I mean, most movies about the American federal government you really want to find out more about what they are talking about, Watergate, a particular President, etc. But this film is actually entertaining. Your first clue should be the director, which is Mike Nichols. The same director who did The Birdcage with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, among other great films. So you know its gonna be worthwhile . . .

    Like most people before seeing this film, I had no idea who Charlie Wilson was either. He was a U. S. Democratic Congressman from Texas who was elected to U. S. Congress a mind-spinning 12 times. But like many career-long U.S. Congressman from the 1980's, he has many character flaws. Charlie employs his office with what looks like last year's centerfolds of Playmate of the Month. Not just one or two, everyone that runs his Washington office looks like a Playboy Playmate. He was called 'Good Time Charlie'. It was reported that he wouldn't go to rehab because they didn't serve whiskey there. He also went to Las Vegas and was at a party in a hot tub, naked, with strippers and cocaine. 

   
         Charlie gets involved in the Soviet-Afghan War through a friend and romantic interest Joanne Herring, played by the stunning Julia Roberts. She encourages Charlie to help the Afghans in defeating the communist Soviets. After visiting Afghanistan and tries to help the American Embassy in Islamabad do this, but they don't seem to want it. When Charlie gets back to Washington he meets with the CIA operative in charge of the Afghan situation Gust Avrakatos, played very well by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I feel that Hoffman stole every scene he was in. 

 

         The Soviet-Afghan War started in 1979 and went on until 1989. Charlie got involved in 1980 and saw it through to the bitter end. He got the Afghans the weapons they requested. The appropriations from Congress started at $5 million dollars. By the end of the war, it was over $500 million dollars. For Charlie Wilson's efforts, he was presented with the Honored Colleague Award by the CIA. He was the first civilian to receive the award.