Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
(Mike Nichols, US 2007, 102 min., 35mm)
Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) is a Texas congressman in the early 1980s who is more interested in tangible benefits of his position than actually doing the work of governing. After seeing a news report about the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, he connects with Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), a wealthy socialite who encourages him to use his position to support the Afghan refugees. Wilson sets up a meeting with a high-ranking CIA official, but is met by Gust Avrakatos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a rumpled and disgruntled CIA operative working the Afghan file. Together, these three people work behind the scenes to arm and train the mujahideen with American funds. Based on the true story, Aaron Sorkin’s script earned Hoffman his second Academy Award nomination.