Despite the weaknesses inherent in the delivery and approach, this is an engaging and slick film on an important and depressing issue

Rating: Null/10 (30 October 2006)

As a boy in Brighton Beach, Yuri Orlov realises that, while some people open restaurants because all men will need to eat, other men sell guys becomes man will always want to kill. Starting out in a grubby hotel room selling a single gun, Yuri uses his local connections to increase his trade. The end of the Cold War opened up huge stocks of weapons to be illegally skimmed off and sold abroad and soon all of Yuri's dreams are coming true  even his childhood infatuation with Ava Fontaine. However as his reputation and sales grow he comes under pressure form two forces closing in on him; one is a determined government agent Jack Valentine, the other is the morality of the business he has made his own.
Whether or not it is based on a true story or not, the truth inherent in the material to make it an impacting and engaging story. The opening credits tell the whole story and it is shame that it never gets as good as the moments where we follow a bullet from the factory to the skull of a child somewhere in Africa. However the reason it doesn't is because the gun trade isn't as simple as evil men doing evil things  it is a business and it is a business that my own elected officials in the UK are a major part of. So although it makes for a weaker film in some ways, it deserves credit for not offering any easy answers (or indeed any answers) and offers up this world in a way that is sickeningly convincing and yet realistic. The plot relies heavily on the slick delivery that is told from Yuri's point of view and totally in flashback. It does fragment the film and prevent the development of characters and depth but it does keep things moving well and allows Niccol to make his points well. As a result some of the narrative threads are dull (Yuri's relationship with his wife is weak) but it does achieve what it sets out to achieve, which is a fast ride through the world illegal arms trading.
Those who have caught Mark Thomas' shows will know that there are sharper vehicles that this subject has been handled in and indeed the film could have been more impact, funnier and darker but for a Hollywood film I can forgive it because it does tackle an unusual subject. This buys it some leeway but not all the weaknesses can be overlooked and some viewers may tire of the pace and delivery of the film before it is over. The cast are mostly caught up in the film rather than playing it because they are not allowed the time to develop or emote. As the story is his, Cage does dominate. It isn't a great performance but it works and he pitches his character well neither moral or immoral, just doing business and earning money just like everyone else. Moynahan does well with what little she is given but Leto is asked a lot of and cannot deliver it convincingly. Holm and Hawke deserve credit for adding their names to this "issue" film but other than that they don't add a great deal. Walker is a solid presence as Baptiste even if he is a bit one dimensional a character.
This is not a perfect film then, mainly because the flow and stylish delivery means that points are made in a sweeping rather than targeted fashion, while depth and character development are left to one side. However it is engaging because the subject is an emotive one and it is hard to be disinterested. Mark Thomas has done it better (and will do it better) but it is praiseworthy for a Hollywood film with such clout to raise awareness of the issue and it is a good film even if it does have these problems throughout.