If you want to see how the Soviets started to lose grip on their country and the role the United States played in Afghanistan’s defeat of the USSR, this is the movie you have to see.
Charlie Wilson’s War is based on the former congressman Charlie Wilson, played by Tom Hanks. The movie right away shows Charlie Wilson as a man who loves life, especially beautiful women, and keep promises to his voters by voting in congress basically. He really hasn’t done anything important in Congress but has made a lot of friends during his time in Congress.
Then Charlie starts taking an interest in the war in Afghanistan with the Soviets. The United States hasn’t really taken a stand in the war and has barely helped, and Charlie helps bump up the budget a little bit. This draws the interest of a close friend of Charlie and anti-Communism activist Joanne Herring, played by Julia Roberts. Joanne convinces Charlie to take a more active part in the war and that it could be the main strike the United States needs against Communism.
Charlie reluctantly agrees and visits Afganistan and talks to their leader, who convinces Charlie to look at the refugee camp. Charlie agrees and visits the camp. That’s when he realizes he needs to get Congress to agree to up the spending to send weapons for the Afghani troops.
Gust Avrakotos, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, catches wind of Charlie’s plan and wants to help and meets Charlie and they hit it off and Gust joins forces with Charlie. They start to find someone who can help back it in Congress and a defense expert to figure out what to send to the Afghani troops.
During the process, Charlie is able to get two enemies, an Israeli and a Pakistani, to agree to help even though they hate each other. The Pakistani leader backs Charlie in his task because he is fascinated by Charlie. The Israeli is in charge of modifying and manufacturing former Soviet weapons for the Afghani troops to use so it shows the Americans are still neutral in the war.
As the war continue to be a success, you can see Charlie start to transform and become a congressman who did nothing in Congress to someone who helped end Communism. Amy Adams plays Charlie’s level headed secretary Bonnie Bach. The movie is great and Hanks and Hoffman have a great chemistry on camera. Adams plays an important role and brings a sense of responsibility to Charlie in the movie. This movie is based on true events and some of the most important events in end of Communism. I recommend that you go out and rent it.
Hoffman was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and the movie was nominated for Best Motion Picture by the Golden Globes.
4 out of 5 stars.
———-Justin Rust
