One Paragraph Review: Charlie Wilson's War

I confess to two things before reviewing this movie: I love Sorkin's writing and have no authority whatsoever to evaluate this movie's historical accuracy. Having said that, I immensely enjoyed this movie. Sorkin's unique talent for character crafting is truly on display here - Charlie Wilson is at once driven and carefree, hilarious and reserved, and simple but clever. Tom Hanks is flawless in bringing this walking contradiction to life, reminding us all again why he really is one of the great actors of his generation. The story flows forward nicely with Phillip Seymour Hoffman doing an especially great job as a grumpy CIA operative. Refreshingly absent from Sorkin's script are moments where he channels his politics through his characters - nobody goes off on a diatribe about gun control or recites a position paper on flag burning. Mike Nichols brings it all together, including a powerful ending that leaves the failures of Charlie Wilson's success resonating with the audience.