Not Illegal

Rating: 8/10 (28 August 2016)

In "War Dogs", Jonah Hill's Efraim says, "Just because it's not legal, doesn't make it illegal." Director and writer Todd Philip's "War Dogs" is smart, hysterical, and ultimately sad. It is based on a true story about two twenty-somethings (Miles Teller and Jonah Hill), who win a $300 million U.S. Government contract to supply arms in the War in Afghanistan. Phillips wrote the screenplay with Stephen Chin and Jason Smilovic based on a "Rolling Stone" article by Guy Lawson. The bizarre truth trumps fiction.
During the Bush Administration, the "Cheney Law" allowed for small independent contractors to bid on U.S. Government armament contracts. Often these contracts were for weapons that were illegal or not readily obtained. So essentially the system is rigged; it encouraged entrepreneurs to leverage the heavy lifting of the arms black market. The Government doesn't care as long as they get their weapons, but just don't get caught. This is a big "but".
Phillips brilliantly captures with hypocrisy and whimsy the turmoil engulfing his guys, David (Teller) and Efraim (Hill). The dudes openly chose this work, and the possible consequences. However, the money is not easy to dismiss. In an Albanian warehouse David and Efraim verify that the $100,000 additional cost will result in $3 million more profit. Hill provides the right arrogance and paranoia in Efraim, who loves living large. Teller reminds of a young John Cusack. He is the decent everyday man caught up in overwhelming circumstance. Teller as David is knowingly seduced by the dark side, and he shows remnants of his noble conscience. Here that makes a difference for us. David is also beholding to Iz (solid Ana de Armas), his girl friend and mother of their child. Iz seems to believe whatever benefits herâ€”perplexing to David. Bradley Cooper has a showcase role as slick arms dealer Henry Girard. Cooper amazingly balances Henry's ruthlessness offset with a weird code of honor. Cooper's performance punctuates a theme of the movie that things are not always what they seem.
"War Dogs" is visually stunning. There are magnificent aerial shots of the Jordan desert as the dudes cross the "Triangle of Death" to deliver Berettas in Iraq. The scenes in dark and cold Albania express the starkness and emptiness of the mood. The visuals enhance the exacting details of Phillip's story.
Predictably, "War Dogs" is a cautionary tale. However, it is told with wit, humor, and a sense of compassion. The hypocrisy lies within the system. And here are two guys making a fortune. Teller, Hill, and Cooper are great. "War Dogs" is worth a watch and more thought.