Charlie Wilson's War [DVD]

First impressions first, eh?

The DVD opens with a preachy, didactic, UNSKIPPABLE four-minute-long clip, narrated in twee poetry by Cate Blanchett (I think), telling us in essence that "HIV is bad". No, you think?

It's so long that the first time I played the disc I thought it was the opening of the film, and I recall being surprised as it seemed out of tone with what I assumed would be the rest of the film. It soon became clear that it wasn't - and when I played the disc again to watch the end of the film, it turned out that this blasted promo can't be skipped! I've seen it, it's not told me anything I didn't already know, I keep myself informed of what's going on in the world - so why do I need to have this preachy drivel forced on me? Very poor choice - well-intentioned, but poor - on the part of the disc editors.

On to the film, then.

No, it's not laugh-out-loud funny. It's not action-packed. It's not the broad comedy that it seems many were expecting.

But it is a light, amusing, often contemplative West Wing-style political drama - hardly surprising, given its pedigree. It highlights a war and situation that perhaps most people didn't know a great deal about, and does so in an engaging way. Take it for what it is, not what the blurb makes you expect, and you might enjoy it.

I saw this film advertised, immediately thought 'Tom Hanks? Nah ...', and let it slip through the cinema releases without seeing it. It was certainly an error of judgement because Charlie Wilson's War is a great movie.

The plot is based on the true story of Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), a coke-snorting, hard drinkin', womanising Texas senator who teams up with CIA operative Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and sixth-wealthiest- woman-in-Texas Joanne Herring (played beautifully by Julia Roberts). They subsequently engineer the largest covert operation in US history, supplying freedom fighters with the weaponry they need to fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

'Charlie Wilson's War' is a mix of charismatic charactors, cynical humour and drama, with some fine acting by Hanks and Hoffman and a wider chemistry evident across the entire cast; CWW is the type of film you watch and just know the actors are relishing their roles and having a great time. It's funny and cerebral, while also showing us the murky side of how the world really works behind the scenes. It's an entertaining and accomplished piece of film making, but not without its problems.

Director Mike Nichols seems comfortable sitting in his 'Catch-22' war-comedy roots, and never really tackles head on the issues the film raises. In particular, the ending (where we, the audience, can retrospectively look back at the historical events and know the direction it goes) seems tacked on, as if to temper the somewhat jingoistic slant the film has for much of its length.

The film also falls into the Sorkin-esque trap where, although the dialogue is great, it's sputtered out at a Kalashnikov rate ... the old US tact of conveying the intelligence of characters by making them speak incredibly quickly. In parts, as with the West Wing, you'll have to rewind to catch what they said and when you do you'll find a reference to US politics that most non-US citizens won't quite understand.

Generally though, an excellent film that is bound to surprise you if you haven't seen it. Not one for the kids or the instant gratification brigade ... but a few movies like this are always a good thing to break up the summer blockblusters.

This is a great movie, a cinematic version of Waugh's 'Scoop', but aimed oh-so-sharply at the blithe enthusiasm and well-meaning idealism that funds freedom fighters as they engage your enemy, and then wrings its hands as they metamorphose into terrorists and turn their weapons against you.

As the director of 'Catch-22', Nichols is on very secure territory. This film, and the book that inspired it are salutary satirical warnings against the dangers of nation building.

Hanks's urbane and engagingly predatory Representative sharks his way through 1980s Washington, and forms part of an unlikely trio that includes Right-wing ideologue Julia Roberts and troubled CIA agent Philip Seymour Hoffman. Wilson becomes aware of the need to support the anti-Communist mujahdeen in Afghanistan, and uses every kind of leverage to boost their funding.

Hoffman steals the film with a great performance, and Hanks isn't far behind. Roberts disappoints, not really due to her acting, more to the difficulty of making such a downright odd character accessible.

There are come cute references to the early 80s (Bowie singing 'Let's Dance' a bit anachronistic as I recall) and a great small part by the luminous Emily Blunt. The sub-Airwolf special effects are most charitably regarded as symbolic of the protagonists cartoon-level attitude to the violence they're organising. The chilling reference to the bitter fruit of the failed state of Afghanistan on 11/9/2001 is well done.

A great war film; 'Mr Smith goes to Washington' for the class of '86.