Appetite for Destruction

Rating: 7/10 (18 July 2009)

"Chance leads Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) to discover his one talent - illegal arms dealing. With his brother (Jared Leto)'s help, he reaches the top of the trade, supplying anyone whose check clears. His skills and quick wits bring him everything he's ever wanted - and help him elude a persistent Interpol agent (Ethan Hawke). But, at the peak of his prowess, he discovers his customers might demand more than he can give and those he's trying to protect could become deadly liabilities," according to the film's official synopsis.
It may be a matter of personal taste, but this film could have done without half of the narration - some of the images have a better effect with musical soundtrack and incidental dialogue only. Pointing out that the film's anti-hero didn't sell arms to Osama bin Laden because his checks bounced, for example, comes across as a pre-calculated, half-hearted apology. Let's leave him out? The film is better when Mr. Cage's "Yuri" marries Bridget Moynahan (as Ava Fontaine), with relatively little narrative fanfare.
Ultimately, however, writer/director Andrew Niccol does create a captivating film statement about gun-running, and its human cost - both literal (Vitaly's body) and figurative (Yuri's soul). There are some outstandingly imagined sequences, beginning with the opening "credits". Weaving Rufus Wainwright's singing of Leonard Cohen's broken "Hallelujah" into the film works very well. Mr. Niccol's "moment of truth" ending is honest, riveting, and well-stated - if only the entire film were as accessible.
******* Lord of War (9/16/05) Andrew Niccol ~ Nicolas Cage, Jared Leto, Ethan Hawke