Lord of War- ***1/2

I’ve never cared much for Andrew Niccol. His earlier films Gattaca and The Truman Show (which suffered from the same problems even though he didn't direct it) and were interesting ideas, but I could never care too much about them. They were too cold and aloof when they should've been involving the audience. Lord of War shows a strong improvement over these earlier films, and whiel it still falters here and there, it's interesting to see a director coming into his own.

Nicolas Cage plays Yuri Orlov, the oldest son of Ukrainian immigrants. After witnessing a mob hit gone wrong, he begins to fall in love with guns. He starts small time, dealing Uzis to local hoods, and slowly works his way up the food chain until he’s selling stolen Russian surplus to dictators like Andre Baptiste. This comes at a price, though. Not only is Agent Jack Valentine (Ethan Hawke) trying to close in on Yuri, but his relationships in his life, particularly with his brother Vitaly (Jared Leto) and wife (Bridget Moynahan).

The only real misstep the movie makes is the wife, Ava. The movie doesn’t seem as interested in developing their relationship (which is surprising, because the relationship with his family members is understated, yet surprisingly compelling), so when the marriage begins to break down, you find yourself just wishing they’d get back to the guns. I was reminded of 2001’s Blow, which had the same problem. It’s just an unnecessary distraction. Bridget Moynahan comes off like an Ashley Judd, filling the space well, but giving nothing to the film. I wonder if, like Blow, the entire relationship would’ve benefited from the casting of a better actress.

On the other hand, the rest of the plot is served well by Niccol’s style. Yuri’s character is entirely defined by his guns, and watching him only develop as far as his business keeps his character unlikable, yet compelling. The story is also not as gimmicky as Niccol’s earlier work, and the few gimmicks he uses work, such as the entire story is told by Yuri as he stands on a pile of bullets, watching a small town burn. The only cheesy one is in the opening credits, as we follow a computer-animated bullet’s journey from the factory to the head of an African boy.

Nicolas Cage is pretty much Nicolas Cage, but his toned-down, almost empty, performance works. He’s sometimes more of a salesman than an actor, and this serves the movie well. Equally as good is Jared Leto, who gets better with each passing movie, and the relationship between the two brothers is completely involving. Their relationship may be written as uninvolvingly as the relationship between Yuri and Ava, but Cage and Leto have a chemistry that brings it all together. Even Yuri’s parents, who are barely onscreen, contribute a decent dose of humanity with their few appearances. Ethan Hawke is pretty much Ethan Hawke, but his cocky smarm works for Agent Valentine, who is just as unlikable in his obsession as Yuri. Ian Holm gives a great supporting performance as a rival arms dealer, and Eamonn Walker is outstanding as the African dictator Andre Baptiste. Both performances exude a menace that lays over the film, and reminds us what we’re really dealing with.

Niccol does well to not let the film devolve into an Ocean’s 11-style likable-thief movie. Keeping Yuri in the middle and surrounding him with the opposite sides of the moral spectrum makes the movie work, and makes the audience have to seriously consider what they’re watching. Even with the wife subplot, Niccol has a control of his film that he lacked in the past and he’s almost made the story fit his style entirely. I used to dislike him, but after Lord of War, I’m very interested to see what he does next.