Tom Hanks (left) stars as the flamboyant title character in "Charlie Wilson's War," with Philip Seymour Hoffman as a smart but socially inept CIA agent. (Photo provided by Universal Studios)

Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) isn't your typical stuffed-suit, dyed-in-the-wool politician. He drinks excessively, womanizes, and hangs out in limos and hot tubs with strippers doing cocaine.

OK, so maybe he IS your typical politician.

But in "Charlie Wilson's War," based on the true story of the Texas congressman who delivered one of the ultimate death strokes to the USSR's communist regime, he's the least likely soldier in the Cold War, but one of the most effective.

Wilson is a cad, to be sure. He loves strippers, has a beautiful assistant (the radiant Amy Adams of "Enchanted") and an office full of cupcakes working for him, one of whom he openly refers to as "Jailbait."

But Wilson has enough flair and gusto to obtain funding for his new pet project, which just happens to be helping the people of Afghanistan fight off the Soviet invaders through covert operations, despite hurdles foreign and domestic.

He enlists the help of CIA man Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who has the know-how but not the couth, and millionaire Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), who champions the cause of the Afghan people and uses her wiles, both feminine and financial, to push Charlie in the right direction.

Hanks plays Wilson as a fully-fleshed, nuanced character, who's unapologetic and makes no excuses when word spreads that some guy named Rudy Giuliani is investigating him for alleged cocaine use, but is moved to tears when he sees the aftermath of the war at Afghan refugee camps.

Hoffman, one of the best actors in the business, gives one of the strongest supporting performances of the year, raucously funny and so straightforward he's usually insulting, perfectly aware of his social shortcomings.

He, too, is smart enough to defer to more amiable people for the talking while he does the acting. He is full of bombast and a sort of pragmatic rage, becoming angry when he thinks it will help his cause, but willing to bite his tongue when he has to.

Roberts has a smaller role, and employs her well-worn Southern-belle persona to be equal parts charming and irritating, but is totally focused on what she wants.

Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (TV's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "The West Wing") crafts a grand statement on the workings of American politics, with all the bluster and inner workings, showing that knowing how to properly grease the wheels and manipulate the system is the real key to getting things accomplished.

Sorkin and director Mike Nichols ("Closer") have made a gutsy picture that offers insight into today's political climate without vilifying those in charge (at least not all of them).

After the war is over, Wilson pleads for additional funding to help Afghanistan rebuild, especially important given "the crazies" who are moving into the country looking to seize power. What do you think their response was?

Nichols does a good job simplifying politics, skillfully mixing in the humor without downplaying the seriousness of the situation.

It's an entertaining and enlightening film, and although it has sharp undertones of much more serious issues, it delivers them with flair and sass.

Movie details:

Rated: R for strong language, nudity/sexual content and some drug use.
Running time: 97 minutes.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Amy Adams, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Director: Mike Nichols.