Lord of War

Name: Lord of War
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: September 16, 2005
Duration: 122 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Jared Leto, Nicolas Cage

2005

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 498 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 498 Ratings

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Lord Of War

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Movie Details & Credits

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: September 16, 2005 | R

Starring: Jared Leto, Nicolas Cage

Summary: The film, based on fact, follows the globetrotting exploits of arms dealer Yuri Orlov (Cage). Through some of the deadliest war zones, Yuri struggles to stay one step ahead of a relentless Interpol agent (Hawke), his business rivals, even some of his customers who include many of the world’s most notorious dictators. Finally, Yuri must alsoThe film, based on fact, follows the globetrotting exploits of arms dealer Yuri Orlov (Cage). Through some of the deadliest war zones, Yuri struggles to stay one step ahead of a relentless Interpol agent (Hawke), his business rivals, even some of his customers who include many of the world’s most notorious dictators. Finally, Yuri must also face his own conscience. (Lions Gate)… Expand

Director: Andrew Niccol

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 122 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

A bleak comedy, funny in a "Catch-22" sort of way, and at the same time an angry outcry against the gun traffic. Read full review

Pete Vonder Haar

An arresting and disturbing piece of work that gets its message across without coming off as overly preachy. Read full review

Robert Koehler

Brimming with cinematic confidence, cynicism, chutzpah plus dramatic bungles, Andrew Niccol's ambitious Lord of War views today's international arms trade through its anti-hero. Read full review

M. E. Russell

Taken as a whole -- and it kills me to write this -- it just doesn't add up to much. Read full review

Mike Clark

Intelligent but not particularly involving. Read full review

Jessica Winter

Niccol's fatal error is in making the protagonist at once amoral and insipid, an admixture thickened by Cage's loquacious yet stoned voice-over and Moynahan's moist-eyed tremblings as the trophy wife. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

The result is a dead pile of information in search of a movie. Read full review

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User Reviews

MovieGuys

Aug 11, 2014

Lord of War is a strong, potent film that (besides adding accurate commentary on gun trading), has many alternative themes about life. It reminds us that sometimes, having everything you want is a bad thing, and that being at war with yourself is far worse than any global conflict. It isLord of War is a strong, potent film that (besides adding accurate commentary on gun trading), has many alternative themes about life. It reminds us that sometimes, having everything you want is a bad thing, and that being at war with yourself is far worse than any global conflict. It is well-acted, well-scripted, and never boring. It is a rare 21st century Nick Cage movie that is actually good.… Expand

14 of 16 users found this helpful142

BryanT.

Jan 18, 2006

There is no reason you should not love this movie. I saw somebody put a 3 for a rating and then justified it by saying he left after 20 minutes. You cannot give a good rating or review if you see the first 20 minutes of this wonderful movie. You know nothing about it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Pluto744

Jun 21, 2021

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0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KouroshA.

Feb 15, 2006

nicholas cage's acting is marvelous.He gets the very unpleasant message through with a very terse and dry style unique of his own.The message of his character don't go to war specially with yourself which is the bitter but the true rule of survival in our time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Broyax

Apr 5, 2017

Un Nicolas Cage en pleine forme dans le rôle du trafiquant d'armes cynique et blasé... et très sympathique ma foi puisqu'il n'est présenté que comme un VRP, un VRP comme tant d'autres (!)... qui font leurs petites "affaires". Et comme Ponce Pilate, il s'en lave les mains, lui et les autres.Un Nicolas Cage en pleine forme dans le rôle du trafiquant d'armes cynique et blasé... et très sympathique ma foi puisqu'il n'est présenté que comme un VRP, un VRP comme tant d'autres (!)... qui font leurs petites "affaires". Et comme Ponce Pilate, il s'en lave les mains, lui et les autres.

Tout le film fait preuve du même genre de cynisme emballé dans une ironie de tous les instants (ou presque), un choix qui le rapproche sensiblement d'une comédie mordante et un choix fort judicieux à mon avis puisqu'il fait réfléchir le spectateur tout en le faisant ricaner et plus si affinités.

C'est d'ailleurs très souvent la bonne méthode que de manier l'ironie cinglante et la satire pour dénoncer les absurdités du monde, cela évite en effet un misérabilisme malvenu.

Lord of War est donc bien réalisé et mène sa braque exactement là où il veut en venir malgré hélas quelques faux pas. Le personnage du frérot est détestable de maladresse et fait pièce rapportée ; quant au rôle de sa femme, il s'avère assez mal développé et reste peu crédible. Enfin, toute la partie de cache-cache avec l'idéaliste d'Interpol est des plus téléphonées.

Néanmoins, le film demeure assurément efficace et drôle en plus de réussir son pari : il dénonce sans être lourd, il dénonce avec intelligence. C'est rare de nos jours.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Gamzguy17

Aug 22, 2021

It's some serious subject matter and the film has its memorably poignant scenes/lines, but "Lord of War" greatly suffers from a cliché script with the Nicolas Cage narration holding our hands and ears through a prickly forest of predictability. Show, don't tell.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SusanM.

Oct 4, 2005

This is the #1 worst movie I have ever seen. Pathetic waste of time. Terrible story from beginning to end. This movie should never have been made. It doesn't have a single redeeming quality.

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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42	#42 Most Discussed Movie of 2005
82	#82 Most Shared Movie of 2005