Charlie Wilson's War ends with a frightening foreshadowing of September 11. However well intentioned, the United States government support for "freedom fighters" around the world and especially in Afghanistan has armed groups of terrorists. The much is a fact, no matter how details of the film reflect real life scenarios. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are easy choices for a blockbuster cast. Although an actor with less of a baby face might have better filled the shoes of Charlie Wilson, the all-star casting did ensure a wide viewing audience for a movie depicting historical events that continue to reverberate in the 21st century. One of the reasons why Charlie Wilson's War is a success is that it depicts high-level decision-making and clandestine government operations with fairness. The film does slip into typical Hollywood sensationalism at times, but not enough so to make the main message meaningless.

Drawbacks of Charlie Wilson's War include its near lack of grit. The subject mater would seem to demand a rough-around -- the edges feel: the kind of cinematography and direction that resembles movies like Traffic. Instead, Mike Nichols opts for a softer, milder, more mainstream entertaining work. Julia Roberts' performance is one of the elements of the movie that contributes to its flaccid feel. Sophisticated moviegoers and those interested in the American involvement with the Afghan-Soviet war are highly likely to feel disappointed with what Nichols accomplished. Nichols turns a sober subject matter into mere entertainment, timidly slipping in some genuine political commentary. In short, Nichols plays it safe.

All things considered, Charlie Wilson's War is worth watching for its subject matter, meaning, and message. The roots of global terrorism are explored: such as the fear over Communism, the way anti-Communist forces were guerilla fighters not necessarily sympathetic to the United States, and the American government's conviction that brash interference was a good political strategy. The film does convey the ethical conundrums of global politics, and the cultural obstacles that continue to plague American foreign policy.