Product Description: Lionsgate Lord Of War (Blu-ray) Chance leads Yuri Orlov to discover his one talent - illegal arms dealing.With his brother's help, he reaches the top of the trade, supplying anyone whose check clears. His skills and quick wits bring him everything he's ever wanted - and help him elude a persistent Interpol agent. But at the peak of his prowess, he discovers his customers might demand more than he can give... and those he's trying to protect could become deadly liabilities.
Amazon.com: The lethal business of arms dealers provides an electrifying context for the black-as-coal humor of Andrew Niccol's Lord of War. Having proven his ingenuity as the writer of The Truman Show, and writer-director of Gattaca and the under-appreciated Simone, Niccol is clearly striving for Strangelovian relevance here as he chronicles the rise and inevitable fall of Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage), a Ukrainian immigrant to America who makes his fortune selling every kind of ordnance he can get his amoral hands on. With a trophy wife (Bridget Moynahan) who's initially clueless about his hidden career, and a younger brother (Jared Leto) whose drug-addled sense of decency makes him an ill-chosen accomplice, Yuri traffics in death the way other salesman might push vacuum cleaners (he likes to say that alcohol and tobacco are deadlier products than his), but even he can't deny the sheer ruthlessness of the Liberian dictator (a scene-stealing Eamonn Walker) who purchases Orlov's "products" to expand his oppressive regime. Niccol's themes are even bigger than Yuri's arms deals, and he drives them home with a blunt-force lack of subtlety, but Cage gives the film the kind of insanely dark humor it needs to have. To understand this monster named Yuri, we have to see at least a glimpse of his humanity, which Cage provides as only he can. Otherwise, this epic tale of gunrunnng would be as morally unbearable as the black market trade it illuminates. --Jeff Shannon
Cage-Niccol Collaboration A Tour-De-Force "Lord of War" is a crafty, deceptively powerful film that comes off as a black comedy, but when measured in full effect, also serves as a potent statement on world arms, cynicism, and the very human of mental conditions - rationalization.
The movie follows the career of Yuri Orlov, played by Cage, who steadily but artfully crafts a career as an arms merchant, eventually becoming one of the world's most successful at his trade. Along the way, he accumulates a trophy wife (beautifully played by Bridget Moynahan), his brother (played by Jared Leto) becomes a drug addict, he becomes rich beyond his wildest dreams, and he acquires a mortal enemy in a persistent Interpol agent, played by Ethan Hawke.
It is not an understatement to say that Yuri goes through cataclysmic changes, and loses his soul and humanity along the way. As amoral a creature as we have seen in recent films, he can make excuses and has an answer for everything he does. Cage plays him first as an ambitious hustler who gets in over his head, then as a savvy professional, and finally, as an amoral, venal, megalomaniac who only cares about himself and his business. Everything else is to be managed, lied to, and avoided.
Andrew Niccol has become quite savvy at writing and/or directing films that make very adept and pointed social commentary with films like Gattaca, The Truman Show, The Terminal, and Simone. But he may have topped himself with this film, which take a hard look at the buying and selling of arms like any other commodity. "The Lord of War" is a fine, provocative film that takes a hard look at how cheap life can become when money and power are in play.
Outlaw Illegal Arms Sales Now ... ... but have some compassion on the criminals profiting, after all, it's the fault of governments and military leaders. This sums up the "deep" message of this "based on some real events" hollywood [sic] dribble.
We put off watching this one not long enough.
Oh, it is believable and there is little doubt in my mind that some similar activities do take place, but the only naive reviews, in my opinion, are the ones that see this crap as entertainment or somehow feel more enlightened by any movie, much less one that never claims to be a documentary.
What an odd little message movie Easily one of the worst movies ever. Subtle as a brick. If only weapons did not exist, it would be peace and love and sugar plum fairies all around, Ethan Hawke implies. Thankfully, this type of partisan message movie (Bush's fault!) has failed miserably the last few years. If you're seeking a leftie tirade, go for it. Otherwise, you'll hate yourself for spending a penny on this dog.
Real life drama For all they nay believers of this movie and gave 1-stars for the film for Hollywood-ism. I can assure you the truth of international arm dealing business is real. I have seen act of an acquaintance of a friend who deligently donates rolls of money to charities to wash away sin of her Jewish husband's bloody business. And yes, corruption exist in our government.
Based on reality and truly scarier than one can imagine This is yet another movie warning us of our current state of affairs in this world of war profiteering. Nicholas cage plays the roll of a War merchant who sells to anyone no matter what side they are on or who they harm. This story is based on a real life arms dealer adn real events occuring now.