534 reviews
Bite the bullet: Guns HAVE changed politics more than votes...
This movie has aged very well
I recently rewatched this modern classic. Nicholas Cage remains a most accessible and plausible character especially in roles like this, where a clever fellow discerns a golden path to riches and sells his soul during the flawed journey.
In the IMDB trivia, it is interesting this movie was never funded by US sources, probably because the truth hits a little too close to home, and makes people uncomfortable. As the movie ironically points out, the biggest arms suppliers on the planet are also permanent members of the UN security council.
Back to the movie itself. Since it is based on real lords of war and warlords, it's coldly terrifying to see how easy the means for mass murder have been made available across the world. As many have noted, it is far easier to kill from a distance than from up close, giving the killers a false sense of morality and deniability.
This movie has aged very well - the insidious arms trade it highlights is as active and lethal today as it was for the last 100 years. As a beloved game series Fallout points out, "War. War never changes."
In the IMDB trivia, it is interesting this movie was never funded by US sources, probably because the truth hits a little too close to home, and makes people uncomfortable. As the movie ironically points out, the biggest arms suppliers on the planet are also permanent members of the UN security council.
Back to the movie itself. Since it is based on real lords of war and warlords, it's coldly terrifying to see how easy the means for mass murder have been made available across the world. As many have noted, it is far easier to kill from a distance than from up close, giving the killers a false sense of morality and deniability.
This movie has aged very well - the insidious arms trade it highlights is as active and lethal today as it was for the last 100 years. As a beloved game series Fallout points out, "War. War never changes."
- tarekali-19909
- Jan 1, 2022
- Permalink
Just An Incredibly Well Made Film
Apart from the very serious topic, this is just an incredibly well made film. There are many scenes in this movie which stay with you long after the credits have rolled, the darkly funny ones as well as the truly horrific ones, and to me this is something only the best movies ever achieve. Intelligent and stylish: this is one of very few so called "films with a message" that I can watch again and again, because it's so cleverly constructed and so beautifully shot and acted. A personal favorite, 10 stars out of 10.
Favorite films: IMDb.com/list/mkjOKvqlSBs/
Lesser-Known Masterpieces: imdb.com/list/ls070242495/
Favorite films: IMDb.com/list/mkjOKvqlSBs/
Lesser-Known Masterpieces: imdb.com/list/ls070242495/
- gogoschka-1
- Feb 10, 2018
- Permalink
Just Evil Prevails
Atop a hillside in Liberia overlooking an impending village massacre once the arms deal settles, Nicolas Cage's Yuri pleads to his conscience rattled brother Vitaly (Jared Leto), "It is none of our business!" Writer and Director Andrew Niccol's "Lord of War" is all about the big business of war, and the cost of selling one's soul. That lost soul is Yuri Orlov played masterfully by Nicolas Cage. Cage as Yuri also narrates the story. Niccol sets the warped and dark tone in the opening sequence of the manufacture of a bullet to its final destinationso to speak. Yuri comments that there is one firearm for every 12 people in the world. So the question is "How do we arm the other eleven?" Niccol's "Lord of War" is not so much a clever indictment of humanity, rather an acknowledgment of perhaps humanity's darker nature. In a poignant and chilling realization for Yuri (Cage) he says, "They say that 'evil prevails when good men fail to act.' It should be 'evil prevails'." I don't think this is cynicism on Niccol's part, rather only stating what is so given all of history and now. He certainly makes us think from the inside out.
Yuri Orlov (Cage) is from a Ukrainian family in Little Odessa, NY. As a young man he has an epiphany witnessing a Russian mafia hit. Being an arms dealer is the path to success. He finds that he also has an innate gift for his chosen profession. He enlists his brother Vitaly (Leto) into the business. "Lord of War" traces the Orlov brothers over the course of 20 yearsthrough the end of the Cold War to the advent of terrorist threats and dictatorships in third world countries. Yuri truly becomes the Lord of War supplying arms to anyone and any country for a profit. He also acts as an independent agent for undisclosed countries supplying arms to "freedom fighters". One gets the drift. Yuri eventually hits his stride and becomes very successful and very wealthy. He marries his trophy bride, supermodel Ava Fontaine (stunning Bridget Moynahan), has a son, and living in a luxury apartment in Manhattan. All the while he eludes the grasp of Interpol Agent Jack Valentine (very good Ethan Hawke), by keeping three steps ahead. Predictably Yuri's world comes crashing in upon him. In a powerful scene with Ava who purposely ignores what her husband really does for a living, Yuri has a conscience meltdown.
The actors in "Lord of War" are great. Nicolas Cage is such a powerful and versatile actor. I don't think any other actor than himself, could enroll sympathy as arms dealer Yuri. Cage gives Yuri a subtle detached edge and an expert in context. Cage knows he is in morally bankrupt position, and he uses his smarts and sense of humor to rationalize that he only supplies the weapons to men who do evil. Yuri is the ultimate poster child for "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." Jared Leto is surprising as the coke head brother, who eventually cops to the monster he has becomethe counterpoint to Yuri. Bridget Moynahan is deceivingly powerful as Ava, the former model aware that her asset of being pretty is fading, and closes her eyes to what her husband does until it is too late. Moynahan is stunningly beautiful and has distinctive grace and vulnerability. Ethan Hawke as Jack Valentine is the intrepid idealist saving the world from the likes of Yuri. Hawke is very strong and compelling.
Andrew Niccol's "Lord of War" ends and the world continues on. The echoes of Yuri voice, just "evil prevails" is a chilling and poignant reminder. Nicolas Cage is brilliant as the lost soul in "The Lord of War". "The Lord of War" is one the year's best.
Yuri Orlov (Cage) is from a Ukrainian family in Little Odessa, NY. As a young man he has an epiphany witnessing a Russian mafia hit. Being an arms dealer is the path to success. He finds that he also has an innate gift for his chosen profession. He enlists his brother Vitaly (Leto) into the business. "Lord of War" traces the Orlov brothers over the course of 20 yearsthrough the end of the Cold War to the advent of terrorist threats and dictatorships in third world countries. Yuri truly becomes the Lord of War supplying arms to anyone and any country for a profit. He also acts as an independent agent for undisclosed countries supplying arms to "freedom fighters". One gets the drift. Yuri eventually hits his stride and becomes very successful and very wealthy. He marries his trophy bride, supermodel Ava Fontaine (stunning Bridget Moynahan), has a son, and living in a luxury apartment in Manhattan. All the while he eludes the grasp of Interpol Agent Jack Valentine (very good Ethan Hawke), by keeping three steps ahead. Predictably Yuri's world comes crashing in upon him. In a powerful scene with Ava who purposely ignores what her husband really does for a living, Yuri has a conscience meltdown.
The actors in "Lord of War" are great. Nicolas Cage is such a powerful and versatile actor. I don't think any other actor than himself, could enroll sympathy as arms dealer Yuri. Cage gives Yuri a subtle detached edge and an expert in context. Cage knows he is in morally bankrupt position, and he uses his smarts and sense of humor to rationalize that he only supplies the weapons to men who do evil. Yuri is the ultimate poster child for "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." Jared Leto is surprising as the coke head brother, who eventually cops to the monster he has becomethe counterpoint to Yuri. Bridget Moynahan is deceivingly powerful as Ava, the former model aware that her asset of being pretty is fading, and closes her eyes to what her husband does until it is too late. Moynahan is stunningly beautiful and has distinctive grace and vulnerability. Ethan Hawke as Jack Valentine is the intrepid idealist saving the world from the likes of Yuri. Hawke is very strong and compelling.
Andrew Niccol's "Lord of War" ends and the world continues on. The echoes of Yuri voice, just "evil prevails" is a chilling and poignant reminder. Nicolas Cage is brilliant as the lost soul in "The Lord of War". "The Lord of War" is one the year's best.
- jon.h.ochiai
- Sep 30, 2005
- Permalink
A Surprising Morality Tale
I was really surprised that Hollywood was able to tackle a huge moral morass like the black market arms trade and leave the moral issues in the audience's lap. Yuri (played by Nicholas Cage) goes to work in a particularly ugly world. When he says that he's had a bad day at the office, you can be pretty sure that someone has been shot or blown up. At any event, what I liked about this picture was that although Yuri obviously has some moral issues to wrestle with, he does so on his own terms, and we are left to figure out the rights and the wrongs. Since most movie-goers don't like to leave a movie with food for thought, this picture may not play very broadly in theaters, but I hope it gets a good audience on video. I also though that Jared Leto was wonderful as Yuri's tragically addicted and unhappy brother.
Leaves you cold, but then maybe it ought to....
- DannyBoy-17
- Oct 1, 2005
- Permalink
story-telling perfection
A movie about a gunrunner who arms the dictators, tyrants, and genocide-perpetrators of the world should not be this deliciously funny. Lord of War is story-telling perfection. The opening scene depicts the life of a bullet, from its creation in the factory to the moment it blasts through the head of a poor African child. Nicolas Cage is Yuri Orlov, the son of Ukrainian immigrants, who becomes the world's most successful arms dealer. Writer/director Andrew Niccol took every major world conflict of the part 25 years and seamlessly incorporated them into a smart, funny, complex story about violence, corruption, and the essence of warfare. Lord of War has no clear-cut, black-or-white, good-or-evil "moral of the story," but no intelligent observation ever does. It's just a fabulous film. "I never sold to Osama Bin Laden," Yuri tells the audience. "Not on moral grounds, but because his checks were always bouncing back then."
- leilapostgrad
- Sep 17, 2005
- Permalink
A half exploited opportunity
The Truth About Guns & Wars
Many people might walk away from this one not feeling "entertained" because it's not your typical Hollywood thriller. It's not a "Feel Good" movie you should take a date on in the hopes of coming away high on life and hand in hand. It's a movie that'll make you think and might disturb the uninformed viewer who knows little about the politics of war.
This is a movie based on actual events (that means it's a movie that has some truth to it). From what I heard the director made quite a bit of research of the gun running world when creating this movie.
This movie takes a look at the gun running business through the story of one particular trafficker played by Cage. It goes through two decades of wars & conflicts and how the business and politics of gun running works. Cage is the middle man in that world, who navigates through it very professionally and coolly. Cage's character is made to be likable, but not a hero by any means.
Many people may think that this movie depicts certain cultures and races in a bad light, but if you know anything about history and keep up to date with world events you'll understand the truth behind these portrayals.
The movie is interesting because it is as close as to a realistic look to arms trafficking as Hollywood could produce without making a documentary. It's refreshing because of this.
I hope people see this movie because it very much shows the truth behind how wars are supplied and how the richest nations in the world have done this for the ultimate prize that thing that makes the world go round Money.
The movie as a whole is produced very well and the acting and cinematography is up to par with the type of film it is (as mentioned before, don't expect a big production Hollywood action flick).
Don't expect your typical Hollywood ending here either.
(I'd compare this movie with Buffalo Soldiers (2001) with Joaquin Phoenix)
This is a movie based on actual events (that means it's a movie that has some truth to it). From what I heard the director made quite a bit of research of the gun running world when creating this movie.
This movie takes a look at the gun running business through the story of one particular trafficker played by Cage. It goes through two decades of wars & conflicts and how the business and politics of gun running works. Cage is the middle man in that world, who navigates through it very professionally and coolly. Cage's character is made to be likable, but not a hero by any means.
Many people may think that this movie depicts certain cultures and races in a bad light, but if you know anything about history and keep up to date with world events you'll understand the truth behind these portrayals.
The movie is interesting because it is as close as to a realistic look to arms trafficking as Hollywood could produce without making a documentary. It's refreshing because of this.
I hope people see this movie because it very much shows the truth behind how wars are supplied and how the richest nations in the world have done this for the ultimate prize that thing that makes the world go round Money.
The movie as a whole is produced very well and the acting and cinematography is up to par with the type of film it is (as mentioned before, don't expect a big production Hollywood action flick).
Don't expect your typical Hollywood ending here either.
(I'd compare this movie with Buffalo Soldiers (2001) with Joaquin Phoenix)
No-one seems to age
A very enjoyable way to pass a couple of hours although over the space of twenty screen years nobody seems to age. The cinematography is fantastic,especially in Africa(some great open landscapes). The most jarring thing for me was a couple of (you can see them coming from a mile away)VERY obvious deaths. The first five minutes are superb, a mini-movie that could be called 'The life of a Bullet'. The soundtrack is also superior to your usual Hollywood movie. Strangely Nicholas Cage should be the 'Bad Guy' but isn't portrayed as such.By the same token Ethan Hawke is a fairly unsympathetic 'good guy'. And are they really his teeth?
- bombelliott
- Feb 19, 2006
- Permalink
Another powerful well-made political drama with an excellent story and a powerful performance by Nicolas Cage
"Lord of War" is about a man named Yuri (Nicolas Cage) who in the early 80's decides that he doesn't want to just work in a restaurant for the rest of his life and decides that instead he wants to be an arms dealer. Once he makes his first sale, Yuri is hooked on the feeling of making big money for selling firearms, and continues to sell the firearms but he wants more and more of a profit and more and more of a challenge. It's not until an Interpol agent (Ethan Hawke) is hot on Yuri's case that he begins to question the nature of his business and whether what he is doing for a living is moral and if he should be responsible for the hands these weapons get into and what they are used for. A powerful performance by Nicolas Cage, as well as a great thought-provoking movie ensues
I love movies like this one for a few reasons. The main reason is that for the most part you can't predict what is going to happen next or where the film is going. Another reason I like movies like this is because it's powerful and its makes you think. And lastly I like a movie like this because it doesn't end in a typical way and actually leaves you feeling blown-away and surprised.
The filmed starred Nicolas Cage who lately has done of some the best work of his career. His performance here is top-notch and powerful. There are so many other people in the film including Jared Leto, Ian Holm, Ethan Hawke and Bridget Moynahan to name a few who are also very good at the roles they played. This film is written and directed by Andre Niccol the same man who wrote "The Terminal" and "The Truman Show" so I guess I shouldn't be so surprised by why I actually liked this film so much, it had a good lead actor and a good screenwriter.
I guess this movie all comes down to how open minded the movie-goers who see this are. I guess it also amounts to where you stand on the political fence. The film is not for those who don't have an open mind about things that are going on in the world today. The movie is based on true events so be warned that some of things shown in the film are happening in real life or did happen at one point in time. To be honest, I do believe what the film states in the end, it doesn't seem at all far fetched. It's like Yuri says in the film "it's not our war and no matter what we do we can't stop it" and that's true it's like smoking kills people every day but there are people who run cigarette companies everyday knowing that they are killing people every single day and getting people addicted to something that in the end will kill them. Is that moral? What can we do to stop it? These are questions this film asks and leaves it to the viewer to decide on.
So in the end, this movie isn't for everyone. In a sense this film is kind of like the movie "Blow" because it's about a man who feels his life isn't complete without selling something that is bad. He has everything he could ever want but still needs to sell the firearms. It's an amazing and powerful story which I feel really puts things in perspective as far as us Americans look at things. Nicolas Cage's performance is incredible as he seems to not care at all for the people's lives he puts at stake every day and when it comes to his own life he still seems unemotional and doesn't seem to worry. Personally I think this is one of the best film's of year and is in fact just as good as the other political drama currently released called "The Constant Gardner" so if you have an open mind about things and enjoy movies that will make you think, well check out "Lord of War" because it's well worth the price of admission at the theater.
MovieManMenzel's final rating for "Lord of War" is a 9/10.
The filmed starred Nicolas Cage who lately has done of some the best work of his career. His performance here is top-notch and powerful. There are so many other people in the film including Jared Leto, Ian Holm, Ethan Hawke and Bridget Moynahan to name a few who are also very good at the roles they played. This film is written and directed by Andre Niccol the same man who wrote "The Terminal" and "The Truman Show" so I guess I shouldn't be so surprised by why I actually liked this film so much, it had a good lead actor and a good screenwriter.
I guess this movie all comes down to how open minded the movie-goers who see this are. I guess it also amounts to where you stand on the political fence. The film is not for those who don't have an open mind about things that are going on in the world today. The movie is based on true events so be warned that some of things shown in the film are happening in real life or did happen at one point in time. To be honest, I do believe what the film states in the end, it doesn't seem at all far fetched. It's like Yuri says in the film "it's not our war and no matter what we do we can't stop it" and that's true it's like smoking kills people every day but there are people who run cigarette companies everyday knowing that they are killing people every single day and getting people addicted to something that in the end will kill them. Is that moral? What can we do to stop it? These are questions this film asks and leaves it to the viewer to decide on.
So in the end, this movie isn't for everyone. In a sense this film is kind of like the movie "Blow" because it's about a man who feels his life isn't complete without selling something that is bad. He has everything he could ever want but still needs to sell the firearms. It's an amazing and powerful story which I feel really puts things in perspective as far as us Americans look at things. Nicolas Cage's performance is incredible as he seems to not care at all for the people's lives he puts at stake every day and when it comes to his own life he still seems unemotional and doesn't seem to worry. Personally I think this is one of the best film's of year and is in fact just as good as the other political drama currently released called "The Constant Gardner" so if you have an open mind about things and enjoy movies that will make you think, well check out "Lord of War" because it's well worth the price of admission at the theater.
MovieManMenzel's final rating for "Lord of War" is a 9/10.
- ScottDMenzel
- Sep 15, 2005
- Permalink
Jarring but kitsch, not conventional Hollywood, but not a great movie; good role for Cage
- Chris Knipp
- Feb 25, 2006
- Permalink
What am I Missing?
Cage stars as a rags to riches gunrunner whose lack of scruples leads him into interactions with civil war and unrest all around the world. Cage is there to profit off of all of them. But as his world starts to crumble around him, will Cage learn from his past? To be honest, I was a little shocked by the positive reviews from critics and audiences alike when I went onto the IMDb page after watching the movie. Was I watching the same film? There's not much going on here. The plot is glued together loosely by a series of wars throughout the world and the ever present Nick Cage. The editing in this movie left me scratching my head. Am I suppose to feel bad for Cage's wife and child I've seen for all of two minutes? I guess the message of this movie is we as a society need to focus more on stopping gun sales that help start civil wars and genocides but the film does a poor job of getting its point across.
The cinematography is fine but nothing spectacular. The constant voice over from Cage is unnecessary, made worst by the face that Cage was sleepy when read his lines. I was already rolling my eyes by the time the intro of the bullet was over. This movie thought it was a lot smarter than it turned out to be which is unfortunate for the audience.
The cinematography is fine but nothing spectacular. The constant voice over from Cage is unnecessary, made worst by the face that Cage was sleepy when read his lines. I was already rolling my eyes by the time the intro of the bullet was over. This movie thought it was a lot smarter than it turned out to be which is unfortunate for the audience.
- Samuel-Shovel
- Oct 3, 2017
- Permalink
Excellent expose on the evil arms trade.
A kind of dark comedy concerning a crazy, rogue arms trader (Nicholas Cage) and delivers one of his best ever performances (in a film quite like no other). It contains a very serious message throughout and some highly quotable lines to, such as "The 'AK-47' being the biggest weapon of mass destruction, as it's killed more than anything else". The tile is a clever word play and a featured mad dictator who gets everything backwards, such as "Bath of Blood", instead of 'Bloodbath' and "Lord of War" replacing 'Warlord' and so on. Has a ring of a terrible truth, with death, destruction and murder, being such a lucrative trade.
- RatedVforVinny
- Feb 8, 2020
- Permalink
Great Nicolas Cage
Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) is an Ukrainian immigrant living Little Odessa in New York. Vitaly (Jared Leto) is his brother. His dream girl is the neighborhood beauty queen Ava Fontaine (Bridget Moynahan). After witnessing a gangland hit, he decides to start selling weapons along with his brother. Meanwhile, he's being hounded by incorruptible Interpol agent Jack Valentine (Ethan Hawke) and fellow gunrunner Simeon Weisz (Ian Holm).
I love the matter-of-factness to Cage's narration. The story is fascinating and spans the world. But it's Cage that sells it. He still has the charm. Before you realize it, you're rooting for an amoral death dealer, a Lord of War. Jared Leto is terrific as the drugged out brother who's struggling with more than his addiction. This is one of the better black comedies with an anti-gun message.
I love the matter-of-factness to Cage's narration. The story is fascinating and spans the world. But it's Cage that sells it. He still has the charm. Before you realize it, you're rooting for an amoral death dealer, a Lord of War. Jared Leto is terrific as the drugged out brother who's struggling with more than his addiction. This is one of the better black comedies with an anti-gun message.
- SnoopyStyle
- Dec 1, 2013
- Permalink
A Testament To Good Storytelling
Good Outline
Uri Orlov (Cage) is an arms dealer who has no conscience and he does this work, why? Because he is good at it. And, if he didn't do it, someone else would. Pays pretty good too.
This is a good outline of someone who is an arms dealer. I say outline because it assumes we know a lot of things: how does he pay for the arms; where are the arms stored; how do they get from one location to another? I am sure there are more questions but you get the idea. Do we really need to know all the details? Probably not, but I say they should be addressed and not have the movie jump all around to show that he deals in the mid-East as well as Russia and Africa. If one instance was completely shown in the movie I think we can make a leap as to what the other deals involved. And, the movie does jump all around. Probably by design to keep us from getting the popcorn we craved when we first sat down.
However, I like Nicolas Cage and this is still a good movie despite too much jumping around from one location to another. He is an excellent actor and we do get the idea what this movie is all about. Where the movie could have saved itself more would have been to add more suspense and tension. There wasn't enough. It's entertaining and there are some very good lines in here or if you prefer, witticisms or truths may be an even better word.
The ending is somewhat of a shocker, but when you think about it, maybe not.
This is a good outline of someone who is an arms dealer. I say outline because it assumes we know a lot of things: how does he pay for the arms; where are the arms stored; how do they get from one location to another? I am sure there are more questions but you get the idea. Do we really need to know all the details? Probably not, but I say they should be addressed and not have the movie jump all around to show that he deals in the mid-East as well as Russia and Africa. If one instance was completely shown in the movie I think we can make a leap as to what the other deals involved. And, the movie does jump all around. Probably by design to keep us from getting the popcorn we craved when we first sat down.
However, I like Nicolas Cage and this is still a good movie despite too much jumping around from one location to another. He is an excellent actor and we do get the idea what this movie is all about. Where the movie could have saved itself more would have been to add more suspense and tension. There wasn't enough. It's entertaining and there are some very good lines in here or if you prefer, witticisms or truths may be an even better word.
The ending is somewhat of a shocker, but when you think about it, maybe not.
- bob-rutzel
- Jan 22, 2006
- Permalink
Lord of war: Great film seeming to receive bad reviews by dense critics
I felt this movie & the actors/actresses did their parts at portraying the turmoils of a man unable to escape his addiction in a dog eat dog world. Nicholas Cage's role of a "gunrunner" sheds light to subjects otherwise not focused on by todays society. Too often do films dull down the truth of life. The term "speechless" comes to me when i think of what one word to describe this film. Cage does a wonderful job of keeping his guard up and showing how strong and selfless one must be to do what no one else will. Despite the graphic nature of the subject and reality behind how corrupt this world is; This movie is not the catalyst for out-lash. It's simply a great film. Blame the real world, not Hollywood.
- Silenttool
- Sep 16, 2005
- Permalink
A real political drama and a good action movie.
- louis_saint-just
- Jul 1, 2007
- Permalink
Lord of War is the Lord of Movies this year.
Yuri Orlov(Nicolas Cage) tells his humorous, disturbing, and tragic story of coming from nothing to becoming the greatest gun-runner in the world.
Lord of War could not have been made better. The narration by cage was not only hysterical but when needed to be, emotional. The acting was the best this year. Cage showed me that he could find a character that actually fit him and the supporting cast with Jared Leto and Bridget Moynahan was incredible. I have never seen a movie that was so funny and so dramatic since my viewing of American Beauty.
The writing was beautiful. There is nothing more to say about it. It was just B-e-a-t-i-f-u-l. The movie is also very entertaining which can't be said about most dramatic movies but then again this movie is more than just dramatic, it's in it's own category! The story is gripping and makes you want Cage to succeed in his illegal actions after you have seen the other side of his criminal lifestyle. It characterizes every day warlords to the point where you understand them and sympathize for them and maybe even blame the American government due to fact that it is based on actual events. Overall, the movie was incredible and honestly one of the best this year.
I highly recommend this movie.
Lord of War could not have been made better. The narration by cage was not only hysterical but when needed to be, emotional. The acting was the best this year. Cage showed me that he could find a character that actually fit him and the supporting cast with Jared Leto and Bridget Moynahan was incredible. I have never seen a movie that was so funny and so dramatic since my viewing of American Beauty.
The writing was beautiful. There is nothing more to say about it. It was just B-e-a-t-i-f-u-l. The movie is also very entertaining which can't be said about most dramatic movies but then again this movie is more than just dramatic, it's in it's own category! The story is gripping and makes you want Cage to succeed in his illegal actions after you have seen the other side of his criminal lifestyle. It characterizes every day warlords to the point where you understand them and sympathize for them and maybe even blame the American government due to fact that it is based on actual events. Overall, the movie was incredible and honestly one of the best this year.
I highly recommend this movie.
- SeminolePhenom
- Sep 19, 2005
- Permalink
A pleasant surprise
I saw the thumbnail for the film, believing it to be a shitty Direct-to- video action film. What a surprise I was in for! Instead of a few good laughs at the expense of Good ol' Nick Cage, I got an intelligent and exciting drama detailing the moral implications of the arms trade and the way it affects the lives of those involved. In fact, it was one of the best movies I had ever seen, in my opinion. One of the most underseen, underrated, and under-understood (I couldn't think of one for this) films ever made. The cinematography was beautiful, the soundtrack was haunting, the writing was sharp, clever, and witty, and the film was full of great performances from Leto, Hawke, and even Cage himself. Truly, in my opinion, as close a film to cinematic perfection as I have yet to see. 10/10
- jjsmithy100
- Oct 31, 2014
- Permalink
How to Arm the Other Eleven?
- claudio_carvalho
- Jul 14, 2006
- Permalink
Hello to arms.
'Lord of War (2005)' is kind of like an audio book read by Nic Cage. Rather than a film featuring narration, it's narration featuring a film. I'd wager that around three quarters off it is told via Cage's sardonic voice-over, which naturally takes quite a bit of steam out of the narrative. The endless exposition is only occasionally witty or well-considered, typically residing somewhere in the spectrum of lazy writing. The story is also bizarrely paced, moving at a clip but never really saying anything of value (all the more ironic due to the never-ending narration). Its amoral anti-hero's rise to the top of the arms trade is kept largely off screen, an odd choice which further reduces the tangibility of his arc. The picture's insistence that it's based on actual events had me wondering whether it was an adaptation (or, rather, translation) of a book, which wouldn't excuse its wordiness but would go some way in explaining it. However, the actual events it's based on aren't much more specific than "arms deals happen". The movie isn't adapted from any existing material, so its execution is all the more baffling. Though the incredibly bleak underlying message of the flick is solid, it isn't hammered home as much as it should've been. The plot sort of goes around in circles and hits the same beats several times. Its satire isn't all that sharp, either; in fact, most of the affair is played entirely straight, despite its moments of deadpan absurdity. At the eleventh hour, the flick elects to include some commentary about the fact that it's actually the USA, UK, France, Russia and China that do most of the world's arms dealing, which is an interesting concept that never gets the time it needs to properly develop. Everything prior to that focuses on Cage's grotty little salesman, who provokes little more than a modicum of empathy due to his total lack of morals. The feature isn't afraid to go dark, which occasionally leads to some bracing sequences. Also, it comes into its own as it gets deeper into its second act, with scenes that include actual dialogue and even some tension. The opening title sequence is emblematic of - and arguably more effective than - the entire affair, a concise and entirely visual representation of a single bullet's lifespan. The feature is reportedly rather realistic, too, and the horrors of its subject matter are undeniably affecting. The fact that it was cheaper for the production to procure stockpiles of real AK-47s rather than prop ones tells you all you need to know about the arms trade. Having said that, the film itself doesn't feel especially anti-gun. That's a shame, because surely that's the only real takeaway from something like this. Of course, it wouldn't change the minds of gun-lovers even if it was, but it may at least have made them think about the weapons they cherish. Ultimately, this is an intermittently successful but mostly flat attempt at depicting an irredeemable arms trader's rise to power. It's never boring or anything like that, but it's only truly entertaining on occasion and it's narration gets on your nerves.
- Pjtaylor-96-138044
- Jul 11, 2022
- Permalink
Well-meaning, but a lot too much.
I'm amused by the reviewer who referred to Andrew Niccol as a 'new starter'. Not only is he of course a well-seasoned filmmaker, he has a reputation for exactly this kind of film. However, this is where Lord of War fails.
While there's much in this film to be applauded, both stylistically and in terms of its overall message, unfortunately with regard to the latter it's far too much of a blunt instrument. Where this doesn't compare favourably with Niccol's other notable moral tale, Gattacca, is the complete lack of emotional engagement with the characters.
A worthy and certainly purposeful moral is fine, but it's no good unless it comes to the screen through the experience of characters we care about. What engages the film viewer is the personal narrative, not the explanation, and this film is just full of explanation, with very little story. I'm always a little worried when a film begins with first-person narration, and in this instance my worry was justified. Cage's voice-over arises throughout, and despite a periodical nicely poetic turn, it never strays from the boringly pedagogic. We get it already, guns are bad, and the people who sell them sell their souls to ignore the effect they have. Would that this had been put much, much more succinctly and with greater dramatic effect.
Testament to this problem is the simple proportion of the story dedicated to the protagonist's family. His wife's eventual betrayal of him to the authorities packs no emotional punch whatsoever - it's just an inevitable outcome with no resonance for the character. His son is nothing more than a plot point, a foil for a throwaway comment about an African child of the same age who is butchered by soldiers while Uri seals an arms deal with them. Again, it packs no emotional punch, because we simply don't know his son.
If further evidence were needed of the story's shortcomings, the Ethan Hawke character, a morally upright lawman on Uri's case, personifies this. Again, there is no sense of any emotional purpose to the character. Why is he so obsessed with Uri? Why does he need to pursue this world of shady arms deals? What is his reason for despising this world of amoral jiggery-pokery so? His explanation when he has Uri sat in cuffs by his grounded freight plane is nothing more than trite, hollow statistics. It sounds like so many cold, numbers-driven political objections. They may be perfectly just, but they are not real, not, at least, when it comes to the motivation of someone so apparently obsessed with changing an evil practice like this. The reasons we do things are not the reasons why they are wrong, but the reasons why they matter TO US. None of it mattered to me, the viewer, a chronic shortcoming with something that so obviously matters.
While it would take an unusual individual to disagree with the general message of this film, it would also take someone especially unaware not to have grasped that message within about the first three minutes, indeed, by the end of the opening sequence. What we get, then, is another hundred minutes of making the same point. The power of drama, and perhaps of film especially, is in translating meaning, purpose, truth, through the filmmaker's skill, into an emotionally or comically engaging story, one that we care about by virtue of what it is, not the message it presents. The message is obvious enough - the benefit of film is its ability to make people care about the people involved. Lord of War critically fails to do this. So concerned is it with conveying a message that is untarnished and unmistakable, that it forgets that it is supposed to be about real people, strong characters, in real emotional, psychological and moral jeopardy. It's a shame that it didn't manage this.
Gattacca is one of the great films of our time, exactly because we do care about Vincent, and because his rebellion against an amoral world is intensely personal. The Truman Show stands out as a wonderful piece of modern questioning about our world, our perception, our view of who and what we are. But both of these films of Niccol's managed sufficiently to blend an earnest moral with succinct, colourful, emotionally dramatic and sometimes comical personal stories. They left room for the viewer to find the message, and to care about it all the more because it came through the medium of characters who mattered. This is left behind almost completely in Lord of War, and it fails far too obviously. It's a shame.
While there's much in this film to be applauded, both stylistically and in terms of its overall message, unfortunately with regard to the latter it's far too much of a blunt instrument. Where this doesn't compare favourably with Niccol's other notable moral tale, Gattacca, is the complete lack of emotional engagement with the characters.
A worthy and certainly purposeful moral is fine, but it's no good unless it comes to the screen through the experience of characters we care about. What engages the film viewer is the personal narrative, not the explanation, and this film is just full of explanation, with very little story. I'm always a little worried when a film begins with first-person narration, and in this instance my worry was justified. Cage's voice-over arises throughout, and despite a periodical nicely poetic turn, it never strays from the boringly pedagogic. We get it already, guns are bad, and the people who sell them sell their souls to ignore the effect they have. Would that this had been put much, much more succinctly and with greater dramatic effect.
Testament to this problem is the simple proportion of the story dedicated to the protagonist's family. His wife's eventual betrayal of him to the authorities packs no emotional punch whatsoever - it's just an inevitable outcome with no resonance for the character. His son is nothing more than a plot point, a foil for a throwaway comment about an African child of the same age who is butchered by soldiers while Uri seals an arms deal with them. Again, it packs no emotional punch, because we simply don't know his son.
If further evidence were needed of the story's shortcomings, the Ethan Hawke character, a morally upright lawman on Uri's case, personifies this. Again, there is no sense of any emotional purpose to the character. Why is he so obsessed with Uri? Why does he need to pursue this world of shady arms deals? What is his reason for despising this world of amoral jiggery-pokery so? His explanation when he has Uri sat in cuffs by his grounded freight plane is nothing more than trite, hollow statistics. It sounds like so many cold, numbers-driven political objections. They may be perfectly just, but they are not real, not, at least, when it comes to the motivation of someone so apparently obsessed with changing an evil practice like this. The reasons we do things are not the reasons why they are wrong, but the reasons why they matter TO US. None of it mattered to me, the viewer, a chronic shortcoming with something that so obviously matters.
While it would take an unusual individual to disagree with the general message of this film, it would also take someone especially unaware not to have grasped that message within about the first three minutes, indeed, by the end of the opening sequence. What we get, then, is another hundred minutes of making the same point. The power of drama, and perhaps of film especially, is in translating meaning, purpose, truth, through the filmmaker's skill, into an emotionally or comically engaging story, one that we care about by virtue of what it is, not the message it presents. The message is obvious enough - the benefit of film is its ability to make people care about the people involved. Lord of War critically fails to do this. So concerned is it with conveying a message that is untarnished and unmistakable, that it forgets that it is supposed to be about real people, strong characters, in real emotional, psychological and moral jeopardy. It's a shame that it didn't manage this.
Gattacca is one of the great films of our time, exactly because we do care about Vincent, and because his rebellion against an amoral world is intensely personal. The Truman Show stands out as a wonderful piece of modern questioning about our world, our perception, our view of who and what we are. But both of these films of Niccol's managed sufficiently to blend an earnest moral with succinct, colourful, emotionally dramatic and sometimes comical personal stories. They left room for the viewer to find the message, and to care about it all the more because it came through the medium of characters who mattered. This is left behind almost completely in Lord of War, and it fails far too obviously. It's a shame.
Interesting film by a new starter, Andrew Niccol
Lord of War is about an arms dealer named Yuri Orlov who confronts the morality of his work while being chased by an Interpol agent. This is a very interesting film brought by director and writer of the film, Andrew Niccol (Gattaca). This is another great film of his that will boost up his career even more. Nicolas Cage puts up another great performance of the year and although his acting is very ostentatious, his narrating just like in The Weather Man, which came out a couple months later, is perfect. The dialogue is very good and the script couldn't be any better. Most of all, I clearly gave respect to Andrew Niccol, because honestly, he deserves the most credit out of any one who worked on the film. My hat goes off for him. Overall, great film of 2005 and I'll be paying more attention to Andrew Niccol's movies. I highly recommend it.
Hedeen's Outlook: 8.5/10 ***+ B+
Hedeen's Outlook: 8.5/10 ***+ B+
- OriginalMovieBuff21
- Feb 13, 2006
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