It's always nice to get a history lesson. Unfortunately, having it filtered to meet an agenda turns into nothing more than an attempt to rewrite history to tell a preferred story, which some people might call propaganda, rather than what really happened. I actually read the book, along with living through the actual events, and it differs GREATLY from the film. There was a lot more debauchery and criminal activity involved with Representative Wilson than what was portrayed in the film. He admitted to consistent drug use, illicit affairs with multiple women along with being drunk most of the time that he was awake; all of which were lessened to seem to be nothing more than harmless vices and close personal relationships. Even his fleeing the scene of a very serious traffic accident the night before he flew over to Pakistan, because he was driving drunk, was filtered from the movie. I'm sure the #metoo brigade might also have something to say about his staffing choices and how they all got their roles in his administration...just saying. Other parts that were left out were why the Democratic Congress were so willing to fund "this" war against the Communists while they fought tooth and nail to defund and expose the Nicaragua Central American situation that was the Republican-supported leg of the Cold War. It was also very nice to try to give Charlie Wilson the sole credit for the collapse of the Soviet Union, but failed to give him the same credit when he dropped the ball and couldn't get the Democratic Congress to continue to support the people of Afghanistan that they became Al-Qaeda and were responsible for the attacks on 9-11. Having said that, Hanks and Hoffman do a righteous job of portraying their characters, especially Hoffman who does Avrakotos probably better than Avrakotos did Avrakotos. Do yourself a favor and read the book and you too will come to appreciate his excellent exhibition even more. Even being filtered with Blue-tinted lenses, the story is a good one and worthy of your time. Just remember, it's based on a true story, just not the whole true story.

A Cliff's Notes version of American involvement in the Afghan / Soviet war in the mid '80s, this covered quite a bit of ground in a relatively short amount of time. Tom Hanks's Wilson is a charismatic, entertaining character with the talent to always come up with the right words for the moment, but he's upstaged every time he shares the screen with Philip Seymour Hoffman's thick-spectacled CIA op, Gust Avrakotos. The two make for a dynamite pairing that can cover extremely deep, complicated topics in casual conversation without seeming overly technical or dull, which was certainly a huge risk in a film that spends so much time behind closed doors in Washington. Julia Roberts can't even begin to keep up, and is something of an uncomfortable fit when she's forced into such scenes. An important history lesson, and a brief glimpse behind the staged photos and forced smiles of the political meet-and-greet, this sheds a lot of light on our modern standing in the middle east.

Fantastic movie. It really shows that the USA went in with the best intentions, but as (the real) Charlie Wilson put it: we fucked up the end. This was good performance from everyone involved. From Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman to screenwriter Aaron Sorkin. I can't say that this was star actor Tom Hanks his best movie, but only because there are so many good movies from this guy. But its definitely high up the list.

Quality abounds. The cast, the script, the tightness of the pacing. It's not without flaws. Stock footage cheapen the look, the American political heroism. The scene with the revolving discussions between the female staff and Gust. Excellent. Sorkin's always delivers a fantastic witty, intelligent script that is mired with condescension. This one is like a leftover West Wing special. All in all, well made and moves at a chippy pace. Worth a watch. 7.5/10

_Charlie Wilson's War_ is an exceptional movie that offers a unique and insightful perspective into the workings of the U.S. Congress. The film exceeded my expectations with its intriguing storyline, excellent performances, and great chemistry between Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The use of real-life footage from the time period further enhances the film's authenticity and adds a powerful element to the story. What's even more impressive is how the movie's themes and lessons can still be applied to current events and conflicts happening around the world today. It's an important movie that tells a story that still resonates today.