With Mike Nichols' "Charlie Wilson's War", we finally have a 2007 war movie that both enlightens and entertains. It is witty, irreverent, relevant and profane. It is an immensely enjoyable cinematic experience.

Tom Hanks brings his innate earnestness to the role of Charlie Wilson, a boozing, philandering Texas congressman who improbably orchestrated our country's pivotal role in aiding the Afghanistan resistance fighters against the Soviet Union's invasion in the 1980's.

As if she is impersonating a drag queen impersonating herself, Julia Roberts is perfect as a wealthy Texas socialite who both beds and inspires Hanks to do the right thing concerning Afghanistan.

Additionally, Philip Seymour Hoffman should be a lock for a best supporting actor nomination for his role as a rumpled, renegade CIA agent who joins forces with Hanks. Together, these three superior actors form their own boozy and bawdy version of the "Fellowship of the Ring", only in this case they are seeking to defeat Communism, not Sauron.

Few actors other than Hanks could elevate a second rate, scotch swilling, womanizing congressman into a hero. There is absolutely nothing noble about Charlie Wilson, and that is the source of his charm. He is as shallow as he is insincere, and he makes no pretensions to the contrary.

However, Charlie Wilson succeeds, despite his profound character flaws, precisely because his word is his bond. He may be frivolous and a sexist (he refers to his mostly bimbo female staff as "jail bait"), but his power comes from the fact that people can count on him doing what he says.

Of particular note is the performance of Amy Adams as Hank's top aide. She brings a strength of character to her role that elevates her a notch above Charlie's bimbo squad. Combined with her hysterically enjoyable performance as the central character in this year's "Enchanted", with apologies to Nicole Kidman no other actress this year has demonstrated such range.

Furthermore, I can't recall another movie this year that had such a clever script. The screenplay, adapted by Aaron Sorkin, is thoughtful, fast paced and genuinely funny, and it reminded me of some of the great Hollywood social comedies of the 1940's like "My Man Godfrey" (written by Eric Hatch) and "His Girl Friday" (written by Ben Hecht.)

Unlike this year's "In the Valley of Elah", "Lions for Lambs" and "Rendition", "Charlie Wilson's War" tells a story concerning a contemporary American foreign policy failure without simultaneously depressing you to death. Just as meaningful as those films, all of which I have written about and enjoyed, this movie does not forget the fundamental principal of the cinema, namely that no one will listen if no one comes.

Just as the above referred to movies deal with our foreign policy misadventures and their catastrophic affects since 9/11, this movie graphically establishes why we tragically left business unfinished in Afghanistan, laying the groundwork for the rise of Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban. The movie ends with a wonderful caustic quote from Charlie Wilson appearing on the screen, and those few words are a damming indictment on the short sidedness of our American leaders.