Docu-drama? well ... more docu than drama

Rating: 6/10 (4 March 2006)

Andrew Niccol has a short but exquisite record as writer, producer and director, including 'Truman Show', 'Gattaca' and 'S1m0ne'. He is doing again something different in 'Lord of War' but unfortunately the difference is mainly relative to the quality of his previous record. 'Lord of War' disappointed me, it looks more like a documentary longer than the usual 60 minutes (including commercials) than or a HBO biography feature than like a real feature film.
It's not that the subject is not important. Arms traffic is one of the more critical problems in world policy and it certainly deserves a good film. The problem is that 'Lord of War' is not that good film, it is so obviously engaged that even if you agree 100% with the message you shortly become sick of it being repeated again and again. Moreover, there are many details that are superficial and characters that get a soap opera treatment, like all the assortment of bad guys from Ukraine, Liberia and so on.
We are certainly left with fine acting from Nicholas Cage. He is good as always, but his character's deepness is spoiled by the fact that he is put to explain himself and philosophize for half of the screening time. Cage does not need this and I believe he would have created a much more interesting character without one word spoken off-screen. The other piece of fine acting is given by Janred Leto. As we are one one night before the Oscars, I wonder why was Leto skipped from the supporting role list of candidates.
It's a disappointing film for those who expect a real feature movie from a director like Niccol and an actor like Cage.