How entertaining? ★★★★☆
Thought provoking? ★★☆☆☆ 16 August 2016
A movie review of WAR DOGS. |
YouTube review:
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“War is an economy. Anyone who tells you otherwise is in on it or stupid,” David Packouz (Miles Teller)
A movie about twenty-something arms dealers, from the director of THE HANGOVER and ROAD TRIP, was always going to be closer to PROJECT X rather than LORD OF WAR. However, filmmaker Todd Phillips has surprised (a little) by going beyond his brand of energetic enjoyment, and actually delivering a (based on a true story) sardonic ride. Mawkishness and redemption are refreshingly absent. Is it more cynical to give a twee AMERICAN GANGSTER-CATCH ME IF YOU CAN ending about moral lessons learned, or to arguably reflect that few people actually end up changing?
A movie about twenty-something arms dealers, from the director of THE HANGOVER and ROAD TRIP, was always going to be closer to PROJECT X rather than LORD OF WAR. However, filmmaker Todd Phillips has surprised (a little) by going beyond his brand of energetic enjoyment, and actually delivering a (based on a true story) sardonic ride. Mawkishness and redemption are refreshingly absent. Is it more cynical to give a twee AMERICAN GANGSTER-CATCH ME IF YOU CAN ending about moral lessons learned, or to arguably reflect that few people actually end up changing?
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The damning of capitalism and the military-industrial complex comes with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments (though does not reach the intelligent mainstream heights of THE BIG SHORT). The fact that Hollywood has created something this anti-conservative is a shock, but there is precedent, e.g. THREE KINGS. Almost following the same trajectory as television show BREAKING BAD, we are from the perspective of 22-year old David Packouz. Unlike Walter White’s monetary dilemma, brought on by a lung cancer diagnosis, one is not sure we are meant to feel sorry for Packouz? He bemoans earning $75/hour as a masseuse in Miami. He is hardly on the breadline. An ambivalent lead is rare at the multiplex.
Bemoaning his lot, David meets at a funeral a school friend he has not seen in years, Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill – on top form). Diveroli is a motormouth charmer, who is a small player in the arms dealing market. Looking for a partner to up his wealth, Efraim recruits Packouz with promises of vast sums. Even though David is against the war in Iraq, neither is against making money over principles. What WAR DOGS shows in the space of under two hours is how fluid ethical compasses can be. Girlfriend to David, Iz (Ana de Armas – KNOCK KNOCK) is meant to perhaps be the lead’s conscience, but has a Skyler BREAKING BAD shrewishness at times. (Of course that is unfair on the character of Skyler, who ultimately turns out to be right.)
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The opening voice over quickly and deftly explains how commerce and war meet. There is a FIGHT CLUB-esque overlaying of annotations to the screen – a shame that this stylish form of information delivery is not utilised more thoughout the runtime (with variance of course). The fourth wall is not quite broken – maybe if it had Packouz would have been too sympathetic? The audience cannot but be energised by the chutzpah and devil-may-care attitudes of the duo, and yet the WAR DOGS team balance empathy with a tut-tut – the compromised system is the real villain.
By the way, am not entirely convinced by his leading man abilities, but Bradley Cooper here, like in JOY, again excels in a small supporting role.
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