From Saturn Films, the company who brought us Next, we have Lord of War. It's an autobiographical-style film, like The Weather Man or Blow (with Johnny Depp), only it's about a big league gun runner. I kept expecting Cage's character to immediately turn into an action hero, but he doesn't. Instead Yuri Orlov (played by Cage) goes on a hero's journey, going darker and darker, providing more weapons for more deaths. Even still, he can't cease to be a human, with human feelings. What conflict!
There are some very cheesey times, like a modern version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, playing in full during the film's most emotional moment. There's also the part when Yuri and his brother Vitaly (played by Jared Leto) get into cocaine, and Eric Clapton's Cocaine plays in the background. Leto's Vitaly cooks at the family restaurant, always rocking his cool emo hair, and never ages as the early 80s roll into some time in the 90s.
I almost expected this film to be based off a true story, because most of the characters do behave like real people, and make the types of decisions real people make. The credits tell us it's based on true events, but to what specifics? Maybe they just said that to scare me, and make me tell others how they must see it. Ethan Hawke also has a small, surprise, role. His presence alone might grant this film a few extra ranks, but no... I had to be fair! Still, I take liberties regarding personal taste. A silly romantic comedy will always win over a serious movie about gun violence and tragedy.
1. Raising Arizona
2. Leaving Las Vegas
3. Adaptation
4. Birdy
5. Wild at Heart
6. Color Out of Space
7. Peggy Sue Got Married
8. City of Angels
9. Lord of War
10. Gone in 60 Seconds
11. Matchstick Men
12. Vampire's Kiss
13. Con Air
14. Face/Off
15. Honeymoon in Vegas
16. The Family Man
17. It Could Happen to You
18. 8mm
19. Ghost Rider
20. Next
21. The Weather Man
22. The Croods
Great post!
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