Brothers in arms.

Rating: 9/10 (12 December 2008)

Nicolas Cage, without serious doubts as one of the finest actors of this generation, gives a very strong performance as a gun-happy salesman who trots the globe looking to supply anyone and everyone with all kinds of machinery for all reasons. In the film, we are introduced to him from his humble beginnings to his climactic rise as one of the top gun merchants in the world.
The story does take a moral turn in many instances, especially with the character of his coke head younger brother played by Jared Leto, and his beautiful and unsuspecting wife played by Bridget Moynahan. Still, all morals aside, writer and director Andrew Niccol is not afraid to show all sides of this terribly bloody business and it helps the audience to really engage in the story. All points of Cage's character are discussed, including his relationships to family as well as the simple goal of staying alive in hostile territories. From the opening sequence of showing a bullet's complete life span to every scene of Cage scouring the globe for people to buy guns, Lord of War more than satisfies the crowd that wants to be entertained, as well as gives a good bit of food for thought on the very rational reasons to use or not use guns. Certainly worth checking out, if only for Cage's outstanding energetic performance as well as some great direction and action sequences. Definitely one of the best international thrillers of the decade.