Boy meets tank. Falls in lust...

Rating: 9/10 (11 December 2005)

Yuri Orlov(Nicolas Cage) is a Ukrainian boy from the wrong side of the tracks 0r, as he puts it more succinctly, "the end of the line." He comes from a family where to survive they've had to lie just to leave the old country, just to find its not too peachy on the other side. He finds a niche in arms dealing, initially small stuff and works his way into the big leagues.
Cage plays him in his usual laconic style, making him a likable anti-hero, even when you know you can't possibly agree with him. It's not that he doesn't necessarily know what's wrong or right, but that he has come to the realisation that if he doesn't do it, it's not going to make the slightest bit of difference. His brother, played by Jared Leto, is along for the ride till he can't stomach it any longer and opts out, a broken wasted man. Ethan Hawke (seen in the Niccol directed GATTACA) is an interpol agent who is determined to bring down Yuri
Along the way we are given a couple of truths about the industry and reminders. Among them the most startling is that the number of gun shops in the US outstrips the number of McDonalds. Scary stats. Even these hustlers with their multimillion dollar deals skating on the edge of the law, wouldn't be missed if they disappeared, in relation to the countries with their multi billion dollar industries.
The writer and director, Andrew Niccol, was responsible for both THE TRUMAN SHOW and GATTACA; both original in concept and beautifully realised. In common, their central character ends up having to fight for his choice, damn the consequences. Yuri is apparently based on an amalgamation of the stories of five different arms dealers. The film found difficulty getting produced, with its off-beat and controversial theme.
With the nomination season coming up, I'd like to see it getting at least a best original screemnplay nod. A real original in a year of some poor copies( HERBIE) and some downright turkeys (DUKES OF HAZZARD).