Very good - poignant yet not too depressing or heavy going

Rating: 8/10 (4 April 2007)

I had been waiting to see Lord of War for some time with slightly mixed feelings on the matter. I think Nic Cage is an excellent actor and was interested in finding out more about the subject matter but had heard mixed reviews and was concerned it could be very heavy going with a topic like that.
However, I was pleasantly surprised. The film is told with a serious tone (as it deserves) but there are elements of black humour in there and it never gets bogged down in the politics or morality.
Lord of War tells the story of Yuri Orlov, a Ukrainian immigrant who eventually becomes a major player in the international arms trade. As well as dealing with his business and the moral issues faced it also shows the impact his occupation has on the rest of his life, most tellingly his brother.
The acting is excellent all round, there is not a performance that could be criticised. Cage plays his morally dubious character perfectly, managing to inspire sympathy without ever letting you forget that all his devils are his own creation.
The opening scene showing the 'life' of a bullet is an excellent opener and, stylistically, the highlight of the film. It sets the tone very well for what lies ahead.
This is a realistic film with a believable ending that has managed to avoid many of the clichés usually employed when dealing with immoral characters. I would recommend this to anyone who has the slightest interest in the topic or just wants to watch a well made, gripping film with an important central theme.