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Movies / On DVD / Lord of War
Lord of War

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Lord of War (2005)

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Reviews Counted:138

Fresh:85

Rotten:53

Average Rating:6.2/10

Consensus: While Lord of War is an intelligent examination of the gun trade, it is too scattershot in its plotting to connect.

Rated: 15 [See Full Rating] for strong violence, drug use, language and sexuality

Runtime: 2 hrs 2 mins

Genre: Thriller, Theatrical Release

Theatrical Release:14-10-2005

Synopsis: Based on actual events, this black comedy/drama stars Nicholas Cage as international arms smuggler Uri Orlov. The story follows Uri from his humble beginnings as a Soviet immigrant in 1970s... Based on actual events, this black comedy/drama stars Nicholas Cage as international arms smuggler Uri Orlov. The story follows Uri from his humble beginnings as a Soviet immigrant in 1970s Brooklyn and peaks with his involvement in selling off the stockpiled arsenal of post-Cold War Ukraine to--among other top clients--the sadistic African dictator André Baptiste, Sr. (Eamonn Walker). Jared Leto costars as Uri's little brother Vitaly, whose conscience and a burgeoning cocaine problem get in the way of business. Ethan Hawke is good as a sanctimonious Interpol agent with a vendetta against Uri, but the film's biggest dose of onscreen gravitas comes from Walker, whose Baptiste seethes with a heavy, serpent-like malevolence. Written and directed by Andrew Niccol, the film makes fine use of the brisk stream-of-consciousness narration style that Martin Scorcese brought to the true crime genre with GOODFELLAS (1992), and a near constant flow of action and classic rock songs that ensure a speedy, riveting ride through three decades of global carnage. Cage, who coproduced, lets his patented oddball magnetism slowly change polarity, until viewers realize they've been led into a moral quagmire by falling for his self-delusory spiels about supply and demand, making this one of the bravest and most jet-black comedies of its decade. [More]

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ethan Hawke, Jared Leto, Bridget Moynahan

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ethan Hawke, Jared Leto, Bridget Moynahan, Ian Holm, Sammy Rotibi, Eamonn Walker

Director: Andrew Niccol

Director: Andrew Niccol
Screenwriter: Andrew Niccol
Producer: Philippe Rousselet, Norm Golightly
Composer: Antonio Pinto
Producer: Nicolas Cage
Studio: Lions Gate Films

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Lord of War

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato

Ceri Thomas

A fine, grown-up movie, half thriller, half black comedy.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 19 2008 07:42 AM

Channel 4 Film

tomato
3/5

Kim Newman

Impressive performances, fascinating info-bytes and pertinent editorial, but in the end, it feels too much like an illustrated lecture.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 01 2006 03:42 AM

Empire Magazine

tomato
3/5

Matthew Turner

Cage is perfectly cast and he's on top form here, subtly combining elements from both his action movie persona and his more quirky, off-kilter performances.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 15 2005 03:39 AM

ViewLondon

tomato
4/5

Andy Jacobs

[W]hile the film is powered by a righteous anger, it is also very funny, stylish and daring.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 08 2005 03:42 AM

BBC

tomato
3.5/5

Rich Cline

The story and characters are vivid and compelling, although the film is far too dense for its own good.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 08 2005 03:16 AM

Shadows on the Wall

N/R

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 29 2009 03:16 AM

Cinema Crazed

splat
2/5

Rob Gonsalves

The movie ultimately crushes itself in a vise of self-loathing.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 11 2008 08:13 PM

eFilmCritic.com

tomato

Dave Calhoun

Niccol is no stranger to hot-button issues, but he outdoes his previous efforts by injecting this satire of war profiteering in the Halliburton age with a wicked arsenic wit.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 16 2007 03:15 AM

Time Out New York

splat
2.5/4

Joe Lozito

I'm beginning to get discouraged about Andrew Niccol.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 14 2007 03:47 AM

Big Picture Big Sound

tomato

Anton Bitel

Satire is rarely so hard-hitting, or high calibre.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 10 2007 04:16 AM

Eye for Film

splat
0/4

Kam Williams

This film fails so miserably don't be surprised to find yourself often rooting against the supposed good guy.

Full Review Source: | comment 6 Comments | May., 26 2007 09:02 PM

Upstage Magazine

splat

Prairie Miller

That the CIA engages in these activities with all sorts of Orlovs no doubt slithering around in the mix somewhere, is a far more intriguing huge chunk of vital information that sadly never made it to the screen.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 08 2007 07:08 PM

WBAI Web Radio

tomato

Stephanie Zacharek

ELord Of War drops the hammer slowly, laying out the fascinating parameters of Cage's world before opening up its argument in an astonishing denouement.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 07 2006 04:00 AM

Salon.com

tomato
3/4

Lisa Ann Cockrel

Lord of War has a surreal edge, despite being enmeshed in world events, with absurdity and dark humor laced throughout.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 27 2006 12:01 PM

Christianity Today

splat
2/5

Enrique Buchichio

Una película frívola y superficial sobre un tema serio e importante como el tráfico de armas. Entretiene, pero como denuncia cínica se queda corta.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Sep., 13 2006 03:41 PM

Uruguay Total

tomato
3/5

Jim Lane

The movie's too flippant for good drama and not funny enough for satire, but the morbidly fascinating subject and Cage's reptilian performance hold our interest.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 12 2006 03:15 AM

Sacramento News & Review

splat

Paul Byrnes

The film's approach to violence is unflinching: this is what poor people are doing to each other with the guns the West sells them, it screams -- but there's no suggestion it might be stopped, or slowed.

Full Review Source: | comment 5 Comments | Feb., 17 2006 03:15 AM

Sydney Morning Herald

tomato

Urban Cinefile Critics

The film is totally engaging, even though not always on an emotional level; there are so many issues striding through the screenplay it's hard to relate too closely to Yuri, although there are moments.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 12 2006 01:12 AM

Urban Cinefile

tomato

James O'Ehley

Unlike most Hollywood movies being made today, Lord of War actually has something to say even though it goes about saying it clumsily . . .

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 08 2006 04:35 AM

SA Movie & DVD Magazine

tomato
2.5/4

David Nusair

Niccol seems to have bitten off more than he can chew here, substituting feverishness for character development...

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 28 2006 05:19 PM

Reel Film Reviews

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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