Guns and War are big business and Cage is on fire at delivering the message.

Rating: 9/10 (7 September 2006)

Yuri Orlov (Nicholas Cage) is a Ukrainian immigrant bored of his insignificant life in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of Little Odessa, a small community dominated by guns, sleaze and mafia rivalry. When Yuri witnesses his first violent act he finds his calling; as long as there are people wanting to kill each other there will always be a market for guns. The story follows Yuri's rise from petty gun dealer to international arms baron, as he discovers he has quite the gift for the business. Money, girls, trophy wife, warlords at his beck and call  Yuri has them all. Ethics and morals  Yuri does not. As the danger escalates Yuri must confront his lawlessness. Does he still have the conscience to redeem himself? Niccol's imaginative visual style is evident from the start. A panning shot across a carpet of spent bullet casings focuses on the back of its main character. Yuri turns and narrates a beautifully crafted introduction, leaving you in no doubt as to the sort of man he is: "There are over 550 million firearms in worldwide circulation. That's one firearm for every twelve people on the planet. The only question is: How do we arm the other 11?" A spectacular introductory credits sequence charts the journey of a single bullet from manufacture to shipment to its final short, sharp, sickening flight into a child's head.
The anti-gun, anti-war message makes this film one of the most important in the market today. Few directors have Niccol's ability to present a provocative and controversial subject matter without succumbing to political slander and anecdotal references.
The casting of Nicholas Cage as Yuri is perfection, producing a confident and mature performance combined with a unique air of coolness that is Cage at his best, creating a character capable of attracting sympathy and revulsion in equal measure. There is never a moment that glorifies or glamorises his violent and unforgiving lifestyle; instead the film portrays an atmosphere of distaste and horror and you always see Yuri for the cold, heartless person that he truly his. Is it possible a normal human being could empathise with Yuri Orlov? This really is Cage's film but, as with any mesmerising performance, there usually lies a host of decent supporting actors to bring it home. Of these, most notable is Leto, who shines as Yuri's misguided younger brother bringing a much needed lighter atmosphere. The locations are magnificent and the direction is solid. If there is a flaw its that the first half, as Yuri picks up the skills of his trade and moves to the big time, is far more enjoyable than the second half, even if the ending is unexpectedly compelling.
Lord of War is a rare film. It is a film that is well told, acted and directed that leaves its audience pondering its gut-wrenching central theme: there will always be people making money from other people's misfortunes. The difference between this film and the majority that reach the screen these days is its directness. Lord of War delivers its message like a smack in the mouth. Guns and violence are big business. It is not gun-runners like Yuri but the great powers of the world, the US, UK, France and China who are responsible for the worldwide supply of arms. Lord of War stays clear from the front lines of battle; as Yuri puts it, "it's none of our business". But by sitting on the sidelines and showing us a different angle on where the blame for war might lie, it invites us to consider the moral ambiguities of arms production.