Rent Lord of War (2005)

The international arms trade seen through the eyes of a cynical Nicolas Cage - Lord of War review by Philip in Paradiso

In the early 1980s, Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage), the eldest son of a family of refugees from the Ukraine, is a drifter without much hope of a better future, in Brighton Beach, a grim suburb of New York. Then, he decides to try his luck, with the assistance of his brother, as an arms dealer. He soon realises that the big money is to be made overseas, more particularly in Africa. There is a seemingly unlimited supply of weapons coming out the former USSR, after its collapse in the early 1990s.

The film shows the career progression of Y Orlov, who comes across all manner of shady and/or sadistic individuals in the process, and is basically unfazed by it all. In the process, he picks up a glamorous wife. He is successful. What grips you is the depiction of the central characters, and Nicolas Cage is excellent in the way he plays the part of the merchant of death, devoid of any scruples.

The movie is not a thriller in the conventional sense at all, but it is still full of suspense and riveting. It deconstructs the way that the arms trade works in an insightful manner, without ever being boring or demonstrative. There are also many funny moments: not because the film tries to be funny (and there are also many tragic incidents), but because the entire plot is surreal, and yet entirely plausible.

This is an excellent film that would deserve to be better known and more widely appreciated. In some ways, it is a classic, or should be.

Surprisingly good view on the arms trade. - Lord of War review by CP Customer

If you're expecting a big budget crime/action thriller about an arms dealer you're going to be disappointed. 'Lord of War' is very similar in tone to the Richard Linklater film 'Fast Food Nation' in which a character based drama is used to highlight the moral ambiguity of an industry. The film charts the rise of Yuri Orlov a Ukrainian born American small arms trader who grows rich after the end of the cold war by selling ex-soviet arms to third world African dictators and warlords. Set over a number of years the film, part narrated by the character of Yuri, explores his life, his personal relationships, his constant pursuit by Interpol agents trying monitor illegal arm trades and his personal demons which question the morality of his business. Expertly written, well directed and with a surprisingly good performance from Nicolas Cage this is well worth a rental.

Sign of the times - Lord of War review by CP Customer

A true picturisation of the current system we live in. Shows what all governments get upto and how they deceive us all !