Movie Review: Lord of War (2005) directed by Andrew Niccol
Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) is not the protagonist’s real name. He is a Ukranian immigrant (as a child) who grew up in a rough neighborhood infested with gangsters. On day he witnessed a mob hit, and came to the realization that he could make steady money selling weapons to people. But not just a legitimate gun shop, no, the real money was in illegal arms dealing. After his first successful deal, Yuri brought his brother Vitaly (Jared Leto) in as a partner.
Yuri’s got hustle, a distinct lack of moral qualms, and some amazing luck, so his business prospers. He attempts to connect with a more established gunrunner, Simeon Weisz (Ian Holm), but the older man is “respectable” and sees Yuri as too chaotic to be trusted. that doesn’t stop Yuri from rising in the trade and becoming quite wealthy, despite Vitaly developing drug addiction, and Yuri attracting the personal attention of government agent Jack Valentine (Ethan Hawke). Yuri’s even able to marry the hot model of his boyhood dreams, Ava Fontaine (Bridget Moynahan).
But a life of crime, however lucrative, has its price, and Yuri can’t avoid payments forever.
This early 21st Century movie is based on actual events, with enough changed to avoid lawsuits or charges of espionage. Much of the story is darkly comic as Yuri’s narration is witty and sometimes contrasts what’s happening on screen in a humorous manner. But there’s also an uncomfortable undertone and some pointed political commentary. It’s pointed out that the United States government itself is the world’s largest arms dealer, and too often just as willing to get in bed with the worst dictators as Yuri is. Andre Baptiste Senior (Eamonn Walker), a particularly repulsive warlord (though he says it “lord of war”, giving us the title), specifically points to the 2000 Supreme Court decision that handed the presidency to George W. Bush as proving that U.S. elections are just as crooked as the ones he holds.
The soundtrack selection is impressive and works well. Nicolas Cage’s slightly off acting style makes Yuri a chilling character when you dig beneath the surface. His few boundaries are based around what is best for him staying in business, rather than any form of ethics. At the end of the movie, while Yuri walks free from legal punishment, he’s lost everything he wanted in life except his career in arms dealing.
Content note: Lots of gun and other violence, often gory and lethal. We see the results of maiming injuries. Child death. Mention of rape. On-screen extramarital sex and nudity (no genitals), Yuri cheats on his wife. Prostitution. Discussion of racism. Alcohol and drug abuse. A boatload of rough language. This is a hard “R.”
This movie is a fascinating but disturbing look at an area of history many people don’t want to be reminded of. The politics may be offensive to some viewers. If you’ve got a strong stomach for this sort of thing and are willing to accept that fictionalization has somewhat distorted the picture, Lord of War is worth seeing…once.
