Charlie Wilson's War

A little-known but fascinating chapter in the history of the Cold War makes for ripping good entertainment in this dramatized treatment from screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) and director Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Closer). Tom Hanks stars as carousing Texas congressman Charlie Wilson, who was so moved by the plight of unarmed Afghans attempting to repel Russian invaders that he spent most of the 1980s funneling weapons to them, with the CIA's help, via secret appropriations ramrodded through a House subcommittee. Julia Roberts plays influential right-wing activist Joanne Herring, whose own machinations helped further Wilson's scheme. The two stars are in fine form, but they're nearly upstaged by the amazing Oscar-nominated Philip Seymour Hoffman as Gust Avrakotos, the irrepressible CIA agent whose impatience with procedure led him to partner with Wilson in what amounted to a private war against the Soviet Empire. Sorkin's screenplay takes a dramatist's liberties with fact and chronology but stays faithful to the broad historical outline, while Nichols' direction is less obtrusive than usual (and therefore all the more effective). One of 2007's best films, this is highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a 17-minute “making-of” featurette, a 13-minute “Who is Charlie Wilson?” profile featurette on the real-life former congressman, and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for one of 2007's better films.] (E. Hulse)