Twenty-five years ago, the CIA participated in its largest covert operation by arming the Mujahideen rebels of Afghanistan as they fought the Soviet invaders to their land. The Soviets were using state-of-the-art weapons while the Mujahideen were using decades old weapons, but they also had resolve and determination. They weren’t going to let the invaders from the east have their homeland.

Rep. Charlie Wilson from Texas sought to help that enemy of our enemy. Through his status on the House Defense Appropriations Committee, he was able to funnel funds to the Mujahideen for weapons and training. This enabled them to not only fight their mutual enemy effectively, but also – in time – expel them from Afghanistan permanently.

“Charlie Wilson’s War,” the latest release from director Mike Nichols, covers what eventually became President Reagan’s official policy. George Crile’s 2003 book, “Charlie Wilson’s War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History,” is the source material for the film. The most extraordinary aspect of this film is that it’s a comedy – and one that really works.

Tom Hanks plays Charlie Wilson to the hilt. This is the meatiest role he’s had in years and literally explodes the various compartments of the man who is Charlie Wilson on-screen. Being a liberal in Texas is in itself a revelation, but the fact that Wilson was a representative with criminal acquaintances, stripper girlfriends and very expansive extra-curricular activities makes for a broad canvas on which Hanks paints.

It’s a real pleasure watching the film and the character of Wilson unfold. This is the film Hanks fans have been waiting for.

The supporting cast is top notch as well. Philip Seymour Hoffman is the definition of a supporting actor. He not only portrays CIA wild-man Gust Avrakotos with vigor, he also sets up Hanks’ Wilson at every turn. It’s as though he is Wilson’s comic straight-man. The scene where the two first meet will have audiences laughing hysterically.

Julia Roberts also appears in one of her better roles of late as the activist Joanne Herring. A Texas socialite, she uses her charm and beauty to get Charlie motivated for the cause. Roberts portrays Herring as a strong, intimidating, sexual figure who uses whoever she needs to get what she wants – and she always gets what she wants.

It’s never easy to take a significant part of history and bring it to film. Too many people see it from too many different sides. This makes it even more difficult to present as a comedy. Along with Nichols, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin deserves credit for bringing the story to the screen with such effective humor and insight.

While “Charlie Wilson’s War” may not be a big draw for those under age 30, those who lived during the times depicted will no doubt remember the footage all too well.

Those were difficult international times that most everyone had a strong opinion about. This makes the film all the more revolutionary. Sometimes all it takes is one person to get the ball rolling. In this case, that one revolutionary was Charlie Wilson.

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John Malgesini is a teacher at Umatilla High School.