Based on a true story, Charlie Wilson's War brings together three top stars - Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. The script was written by The West Wing and A Few Good Men scribe, Aaron Sorkin, a man who has made a very successful career out of exposing the underbelly of Washington's political machine. Directing the picture is Mike Nichols who, once known for his comedy, but with so-so political dramas like Primary Colors under his belt, has shown a fondness for taking on Washington.

Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) is a single, East Texas congressman with a fondness for alcohol, drugs, and woman. The film begins in 1980, just after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, a poor nation woefully unequipped to fight the superpower.

For whatever reason, Charlie feels compelled to help out. Using his position on the House Appropriations Committee, the liberal Democrat Wilson travels to Pakistan, making deals to obtain high-tech weaponry for the Afghans with some encouragement from his lover, Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts). Herring was a right-wing Houston millionaire socialite who hated the Communists and wanted them to stop killing the brave Afghans.

Joanne arranges a trip to Pakistan for Charlie to meet her friend, General Zia. As the military dictator of Pakistan, Zia hates the Soviets with a passion. After the General asks Rep. Wilson to visit Pakistan's refugee camps for Afghans, Charlie becomes obsessed with helping the Afghans beat the Soviets.

Upon his return, Wilson teams up with a moody, long time CIA man named Gust Avrakotos (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). The heavy set, chain-smoking agent handles Afghanistan at the CIA with "three other guys," and knows just the Israeli they need to talk to about weapons.

Between Charlie's ability to call in political favors, Joanne's skills at schmoozing and cozying up to her fellow millionaires, and Gust's knowledge of secret operations, the three are able to get the money and weapons needed to help the Afghans to victory. When this whole thing began, the U.S. was supplying the Afghans with a virtually pointless $5 million a year, but that amount was quietly raised to $1 billion a year by the time everything was said and done.

Aaron Sorkin and Mike Nichols have painted a sanitized picture of both Charlie Wilson and Gust Avrakotos in the film. While Hanks and Hoffman portray them as lovable rogues any mother could love, George Crile's 2003 book of the same name paints a much harsher portrait.

Charles Wilson was a hit-and-run-driver who took various women on federally funded vacations masked as work whenever he could get away with it. He was also never one for political correctness, once calling Pat Schroeder, a Colorado Democrat "babycakes." Avrakotos is a washed up guy who has broken too many rules to count.