Hollywood gives you an entertaining history lesson on how the Soviets were defeated in Afghanistan. Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) is a likable congressman who is more interested in alcohol and good-looking women than passing any law. While he lacks diligence and determination on the congressional floor, he recruits what he regards a dream-team staff:  all staffers are female and one is looking better than the next.  Wilson has no legislative record whatsoever until he becomes aware of the plight of the Afghani people who are fighting the Soviet Army at enormous costs to their own population. After sleeping with a rich Texas Redneck (Julia Roberts), Charlie becomes serious and maneuvers Congress into providing the Afghani people with all the money they need to win the war.  The most enjoyable character in the film is Philip Seymour Hofmann who plays iconoclastic CIA officer in charge of helping the Afghani effort against the evil empire.