I have to say that this is one of my favorite U.S.-made films of all time. I can't believe that Nick Cage is in it either because my goodness is he terrible in so many other films.
The story follows the life of Yuri Orlov, a Ukrainian immigrant to America, and his rise to power inside international arms trading and the many internal struggles that he faces including the fact that he is completely aware that his weapons are being used to kill innocent civilians in war-torn Africa.
Now here is something I didn't know until years later and it is important to understand: The conflicts in Africa that he is supplying the weapons to were real conflicts and very real tragedies, but as it turns out Yuri is a completely made up person based on the lives of several different people. There is much speculation about how his character was primarily based on Victor Bout and as fate would have it Victor was actually captured 25 later in Thailand of all places.
Back to the film:
The opening sequence of the film is brilliantly shot (no pun intended) and then the rest of the story is told fluidly and in an entertaining and easy-to-understand manor. Nick Cage narrates over the parts that the actual action can not adequately explain and while many people say this is a lazy way to make films, it is incredibly necessary in my opinion.
Jared Leto (who i think is a much better actor than Nick) plays Yuri's troubled, but far more ethical brother, Vitaly. Their relationship in the film does a lot for the overall story and I think selecting Leto for the role was a very wise decision on the part of the producers. Likely a better decision that selecting Nick Cage. I mean have you seen the "bees!" scene in the completely unneeded remake of "The Wicker Man?"
I laugh every time i see this pic
This film came out in 2005 and I believe the story it portrays is still relevant now and likely always will be until the world decides to stop killing people. I think we all know that this, sadly, is unlikely.