Watch Charlie Wilson's War

In the movie Charlie Wilson's War, Tom Hanks stars as Charlie Wilson, a flamboyant and womanizing congressman from Texas who becomes embroiled in the Afghan-Soviet War in the 1980s. The film takes place during the Cold War era, and we are introduced to Wilson as a somewhat irresponsible playboy who spends most of his time drinking and partying with beautiful women. However, when his friend, CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), brings him a report about the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Wilson is shocked and appalled.

Charlie Wilson's War is a political drama that follows the true story of how Wilson helped fund the mujahideen resistance in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union during the 1980s. After learning about the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Wilson becomes determined to do something to help the Afghans fight back. He teams up with Avrakotos, and together they work to secure funding and weapons for the mujahideen.

The movie is not just a political thriller, however. It also explores the intricate relationships between Wilson, Avrakotos, and Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), a wealthy Texan socialite who is passionate about anti-communist causes. Herring convinces Wilson to take up the cause of Afghanistan, and the three work together to lobby Congress and secure funding for the mujahideen.

One of the strengths of Charlie Wilson's War is its witty and sharp dialogue. Aaron Sorkin, the screenwriter behind The West Wing and The Social Network, wrote the script, and his talent for snappy banter and clever one-liners is on full display. The film is well-paced and entertaining, and even manages to inject some humor into what could have been a very serious and dry subject matter.

Tom Hanks delivers a fantastic performance as Charlie Wilson. He embodies the character's larger-than-life personality and makes him likable even when he is behaving badly. Philip Seymour Hoffman also shines as Gust Avrakotos, the foul-mouthed CIA agent who becomes Wilson's closest ally. Julia Roberts, while not given as much to do, is still effective as Joanne Herring, the woman who helps Wilson see the bigger picture.

Overall, Charlie Wilson's War is a well-crafted movie that manages to be both entertaining and informative. It sheds light on a little-known aspect of history and raises important questions about the unintended consequences of political intervention. While it doesn't shy away from the complexities of its subject matter, the film never feels too heavy-handed or didactic. Instead, it is a smart, engaging, and thought-provoking drama that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

Charlie Wilson's War is a 2007 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 67.