Charlie For President
TITLE: Charlie Wilson's War
GENRE: Historical Biography, Soviet/Afghan Conflict
CAST: Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams and Ned Beatty
STORY: Apalled by the goings on in Afghanistan, 'Good Time Charlie' Wilson uses his pile of political IOUs and some astute CIA Operative (Gust Avrokotos)'s schemes to steadily increase funding and weaponry getting into the Mujahadeen's hands to fight the occupying Soviet Army. The Soviet Union is finally driven out but Charlie has emptied his bag of favors and can no longer be patrone to the Afghans. We all know where that situation led us.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: 9.2 of 10: We are too close to the events described and the future is yet to learn (Huh?) But, the way all the pieces are gathered together to tell this short bit of history in a land far away from the main characters, is incredible. Hoffman got a support actor Oscar, and every one else won golden globes, the cast performed so well. The sets and costumes are amazing and filming of the Afghan/Pakistan border is well repesented by shots of locations in Morocco.
DVD BONUS: "The Making of..."; A brief biography of Charlie Wilson.
ADDED NOTES: I just reviewed Mike Nichols' "The Graduate" and unknown to me I watch another of his masterpieces.