Flawed, but fascinating

Rating: 7/10 (1 April 2006)

It's not necessarily a bad film, but a flawed one that could have been improved easily.
The entire premise of the film, following a gunrunner through his trade, and the constant narration by Nicolas Cage is absolutely riveting. You can't get enough of his character, Yuri Orlav. He's a very bad guy, but you watch the dissection of his character, from young guy growing up in Brooklyn slums, to a witty SOB selling guns to people who would shoot him in an instant, and it's all excellent. His performance on screen proves that there still is acting talent in Hollywood, and it's no wonder why Cage won an Oscar and is still pulling in crowds (albeit, not as huge as back in the day).
But the problem with the film is not Cage. Or even his co-stars. Even though it's Cage-centric, Jared Leto, Bridget Moynahan, Ian Holm, Eamonn Walker, and even Ethan Hawke all pull in some very good performances, even though some of them are barely in it. Leto is really starting to seem more than a pretty face (maybe an Oscar nom for Chapter 27?).
It's not the visuals either. From the fabulous opening sequence involving the creation, shipment and final resting place of a machine gun bullet, to the fast editing techniques throughout the film, it never lets up. The cinematography is particularly a standout, and the scenes in Africa come later in the film, be prepared for some really beautiful sequences. While The Constant Gardener may have nailed the life in Africa to beyond an art, this film still brings outstanding beauty to the landscape. The way that some of the shots are set up, even when not in Africa, are pure genius.
No, the problem is the story. After the initial narration, and the setup of the film, it just falls apart. Yuri sells gun, Yuri gets in trouble with Valentine, Yuri continues selling guns. For 2 hours, it's the same thing. Even with significant plot points flying around, the cycle continues on and on. While the movie begs to be interesting, it just falls apart at the seams, and can't get back up on performances alone. Even though you can't stop watching, you know deep down that the movie has fallen into boredom territory. It's a real shame too.
While the life of a gunrunner is an interesting concept, it could have been pulled off much smoother in its translation from script to screen. A polish of the script could have helped this film greatly, and made this underrated film even more appreciated, and seen during its initial run.
7.5/10.