ALTHOUGH it stops tantalisingly short of drawing explicit links between American involvement in Afghanistan during the early '80s and the rise of Osama bin Laden and al Qaida, Mike Nichols' starry political satire draws a trickle of blood with its timely references to conflict in the Middle East.

Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) gifts the most telling lines to the eponymous politician, played with easygoing charm by Tom Hanks.

During an appearance before a funding subcommittee, Charlie complains bitterly "This is what we always do. We go in with our ideals and then we leave. We always leave."

Julia Roberts' slinky socialite fans the air of cynicism.

"Why is Congress saying one thing and doing nothing?" she asks Charlie.

"Tradition, mostly," he replies impishly.

The best line in the film enforces the sentiment: "You're not stupid - you're in Congress."

Based on true events, Nichols' ribald comedy revolves around naive and idealistic Texas congressman Charlie Wilson, who is destined for great things on Capitol Hill, flanked by feisty assistant Bonnie Bach (Amy Adams).

When on-off socialite lover Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) begs for help repelling Soviet forces in Afghanistan, Charlie agrees to spearhead the campaign to increase funding for Mujahideen freedom fighters.

Tapping into a ground swell of support, Charlie aligns himself with maverick CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and together they begin greasing the political cogs.

The two men woo high profile figures like Pakistani president Zia ul-Haq (Om Puri) and political heavyweight Doc Long (Ned Beatty), chairman of the Defence Appropriations Subcommittee.

Collective guilt on Capitol Hill ensures funding for US covert operations swells from a paltry $5m to $1bn, providing the rebels with armaments to overwhelm the Soviet might.

When the Reds subsequently retreat, Charlie is feted as a hero, unaware that the terrible legacy of this intervention will become chillingly clear on an autumn day in New York City in 2001.

Considering the glittering calibre of talent on screen and behind the camera, Charlie Wilson's War is a disappointment.

Hanks and Roberts are solid but the film only comes to life when Hoffman bursts onto screen as the sardonic, anti-authoritarian CIA agent who isn't below underhand tactics like blackmail to get his way.

"You ain't James Bond," Charlie sniggers during an early confrontation.

"You ain't Thomas Jefferson," retorts Gust, "so let's call us even."

A breathlessly choreographed sequence shot in Charlie's office, in which Bonnie and Gust dash in and out of opposing doors, simultaneously conducting separate meetings with the beleaguered congressman, is quite brilliant.

Sadly, nothing else comes close to this virtuoso moment from director Nichols.

Beatty's ageing politician waves the Stars and Stripes during a visit to Afghanistan, where he proudly tells the people, "This is good versus evil and I want you to know that America will always be on the side of good."

Some would disagree.

  • See it at Empire and Odeon.