Overlooked gem, that just happens to be the best movie of 2005

Rating: Null/10 (2 July 2006)

Story: Life story of Yuri Orlov, immigrant who becomes an arm dealer.
Pros: Eye-opening film. Cinematography and direction are brilliant. Very entertaining but also has a powerful message to say. Almost does not drag at all (which is a rarity for a 'drama' genre). Dialog is very clever, as there are some lines that are bound to stick in your mind.
Cons: Some scenes are way over-dramatic. Cage did an OK job, but I still think they should have picked someone better for that role.
Evaluation: This movie has just edged over "Constant Gardener" in my book as the best movie of 2005. The message is clearly anti-war, but (as opposed to "Constant Gardener") this movie has a very light tone (which makes the viewing much more enjoyable). But what I really love about this movie is its dark self-ironic humor mixed into scenes of harsh 'dog-eat-dog' reality (quite a contrast). Also it's notable that the main hero is not vilified throughout the film, but there's no excuse for his actions either: in a way he's an average schmo, that each one of us can relate to in some way (which allows us to think what we would do in his place).
Recommendation: A must-see for all of you liberal/anti-war kind out there. Actually, I think that everybody should at least rent it.