Charlie Wilson's War

Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman, both of whom are in top form, plan a covert war like they’re remodeling a kitchen. I’ve seen guys talk about football with ten times the passion. So it should come as no unsettling surprise when, after chasing Russians away, the celebration of the Afghani rebels feels like watching a slow-motion train wreck. Aren’t we at war in Afghanistan now? Everything about this is soft-edged, and it zips along with a casual, airy flow. Julia Roberts is miscast, but otherwise it’s a good show. Except, the pity we’re prompted to feel for the armless Afghani children seems disingenuous. Perhaps this is intentional. Perhaps all the U.S. did was throw gas on a fire. Perhaps Charlie Wilson planted the seeds for the mother of all quagmires.