Charlie Wilson's War

I had one word hovering in mind that kept me from finding this film satisfactory -- “blowback.” The word is never used in the film, which is precisely the problem. We are meant to find Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson admirable despite his peccadilloes -- he’s played by Tom Hanks, after all -- and applaud his crucial support for the mujahedeen and the covert war in Afghanistan, leading to the defeat of the Soviet Army and the fall of Communism. But never is it mentioned that those we supported and empowered were the Taliban and their ally Osama bin Laden, nor that we are now engaged in another war in Afghanistan, against those we enabled with weapons and money. And now we are the arrogant empire being brought to grief by the fierce Afghanis, part of a long line that probably goes back to Alexander the Great. So what kind of hero can this weapons dealer be, and how exhilarated can one get while tabulating the number of Soviet airships blown out of the air by the ground-to-air missiles supplied by the U.S. through the combined offices of Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia? This is an admirable triumph of American diplomacy? This good old Texas buttkicking is something to applaud? I think not, so this film has no chance with me. Despite the wit of Aaron Sorkin’s script and the swiftness of Mike Nichols direction. Despite reliably good performances from the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams, as well as producer Hanks. I can’t figure out whether the film is meant to be satire or celebration, but its moment certainly passed a while back -- on, say, September 11, 2001, or maybe the day we realized that the mission was anything but accomplished. (2007, dvd, n.) *6* (MC-69.)