CRITIC'S CORNER
'Wilson's War' is almost a movie
By DNA Smith
"Charlie Wilson's War" Running time: 97 minutes MPAA rating: R

Hanks

"Charlie Wilson's War" is a great example of an Almost Movie. It has almost enough good stuff in it to be recommendable. Unfortunately, it also has almost enough bad stuff about it for me to tell you to stay far away from it.

Loosely based on a true story, "Charlie Wilson's War" tells the tale of hard-partying Texas congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) and his role in the covert funding of the Afghani mujahedeen "freedom fighters" against the Soviet Union's occupational forces during the Reagan Era. Aiding him in his one-man crusade are an evangelical Christian Texas socialite, Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), and a maverick CIA agent named Gus (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

Here's the good stuff: Hoffman's performance. He's one of Hollywood's great character actors, and he totally chews up the scenery and steals every scene he's in -- a tall order when you share all your scenes with Tom Hanks. If Hoffman doesn't get a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this performance, there is no God. The dialogue is also sparkling, thanks to screenwriter Aaron Sorkin.

Now the Bad: The wigs. Seriously. All the major actors in this movie sport at least one horrible hairpiece. Hanks, Roberts and Hoffman look like they're in a high-school play. The biggest offender is Julia Roberts, who has to wear at least four amateurish, hideously styled wigs.

The film also glosses over the historical context of what Charlie Wilson did. By funding the Afghans, he did indeed play a significant role in the fall of the Soviet Union; but it also laid the groundwork for the rise of the Taliban, al-Quaida, Osama bin Laden and the 9/11 attacks. Without any historical context, you have no idea what the film's point of view is, or a good reason why you should care about the characters and their story.

So, with such a lopsided film, do I recommend it or not? If you want to see Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman riffing some peppy dialogue and give great performances, then by all means see "Charlie Wilson's War." If that's not enough, then wait for the DVD and rent it.

GRADE: C+

(c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.