It’s a shame this film didn’t get the kind of promotion it deserved, but it’s understandable that nobody knew just how to sell it. As a satire of the necessary evils that support our country’s position of power and stature in the world economy, Lord of War is most likely an uncomfortable viewing for post-9/11 patriots. It’s a heavy mix of human suffering, moral flag-waving and sardonic comedy – the kind of movie that leading actor Nic Cage has been waiting to play for years. Cage is Yuri Orlov, an immigrant’s son making the most the American dream by becoming a top international weapons dealer. His performance has great depth, portraying a man denying his conscience while attempting to balance his perfect home life with a secret career that contributes greatly to genocide. As it gets harder to wash the blood from his hands, things begin to slip out of his control and risk destroying his cool surface as much as his very life. His globe-trotting adventures in the arms trade are exciting and amusing, finding unlikely humor in scenes where children bear assault rifles. The extended opening scene – a clever point-of-view of the “life” of a bullet – immediately sucked me in and paved the way for a fascinating, cynical journey.

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