Strong movie featuring VERY strong performances

Rating: 9/10 (7 November 2005)

Lord of War is written and directed by Andrew Niccol (Gattaca)
After seeing only the trailer once before I saw this movie, I was completely interested in this movie because its a movie that reminded me of The Insider. This movie talks about the business of gun running and I was completely intrigued. Nicolas Cage plays Yuri Orlov, a person who never met a person he wouldn't do business with. Jared Leto plays Vitaly Orlov, Yuri's younger brother and drug addict. Leto and Cage have entertaining, yet outstanding scenes together that truly does define 'character driven', its amazing because you completely believe them as siblings, yet on another level you completely believe that the younger brother is trying to put his older brother's grips on reality and on the final level you do believe that they're just trying to convince one another that what Nicolas Cage is doing is for the benefit of his family.
The reality of this movie starts off as entertaining, yet once you get into it you realize that its very chilling and nonetheless TRUE. You soon realize that Vitaly is very well justified in having his addiction because he just can't handle the fact that LITERALLY right next to them the war is being fought while they are making these deals. Cage isn't bothered with that.
Nicolas Cage gives a VERY strong performance since his work in 'Leaving Las Vegas'. This movie covers 20 years of his life and he isn't bothered trying to look young or acting more energetically, he is focused, poised, intense and intensely fascinating at every turn of the movie. Jared Leto gives his best performance here, shadowing his work in movies like Panic Room, Fight Club and Alexander. He steps up his skill for his Co-star, an Academy Award Winner and his director who has made legendary films.
Also featured in this movie is Eamonn Walker as Andre Baptis Sr, in an entertaining yet top defining performance as a psycho killer in a dress suit.